Sat Nov 08 11:36:55 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text:

Headline: Lie Detector Tests Ordered for Temple Staff in Missing Gold Rod Case

Thiruvananthapuram, India – November 8, 2025 – A magistrate’s court in Thiruvananthapuram has granted police permission to conduct polygraph (lie detector) tests on ten staff members of the renowned Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. The move comes in response to the brief disappearance and subsequent recovery of a 13 sovereign (approximately 107 grams) gold rod used for soldering, which was reported missing in May.

The gold rod, used by temple smiths for minor repairs, triggered a large-scale search after its disappearance. Following a complaint filed by temple authorities, police launched an investigation, reviewing CCTV footage from the temple’s extensive surveillance system.

While the rod was eventually found in a sandpit within the temple grounds, the circumstances surrounding its disappearance remain unclear. Police initially speculated that the rod may have been accidentally misplaced by the smith responsible for returning it to the temple treasury.

Assistant Commissioner C. Binu stated that the polygraph tests are intended to resolve lingering uncertainties in the case. The court has stipulated that the tests can only be conducted with the voluntary consent of each individual, and that they must provide a statement before the magistrate.

Despite the recovery of the gold, the investigation into potential fraud or foul play remains open, as authorities continue to scrutinize security protocols surrounding the temple’s vault, which houses valuable religious artifacts. The case continues to attract significant public attention due to the temple’s historical and religious significance.

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