Thiruvananthapuram: The investigation into the theft at Kowdiar Palace is progressing, with city police intensifying efforts to reconstruct the sequence of events and identify those responsible. City police commissioner K Karthick on Tuesday visited the palace and reviewed the preliminary findings.Karthick said that investigators were in the process of gathering ‘maximum possible evidence’, including physical clues and testimonial inputs. Statements have already been recorded from individuals residing within the palace premises, and more rounds of questioning are expected as the probe deepens. The commissioner’s on-site visit is understood to be part of a broader attempt to assess security vulnerabilities and verify internal accounts. The theft, which came to light only two days ago, involves valuables from the erstwhile royal family of Travancore. The missing items include diamond jewellery and an antique gold collection kept in a locker inside the bedroom of royal family member Aswathi Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi. The stolen assets are estimated to be worth around Rs 2 crore, though officials indicate that the real value could be significantly higher given the historical and antique nature of several pieces. According to the complaint, the loss was first noticed in Nov 2025, just before Gowri Lakshmi Bayi left for Bengaluru. However, a formal complaint was lodged with state police chief only four days ago, raising questions about the time gap between detection and reporting. Sources suggest that the delay could complicate the reconstruction of the crime timeline, particularly in terms of identifying when exactly the theft occurred. Many of these items are described as heritage artefacts, with age and provenance making precise valuation difficult. What has further complicated the investigation is the nature of the premises. Kowdiar Palace is a high-security residence with multiple layers of protection, including deployed security personnel and CCTV surveillance systems. Investigators are examining footage and access logs, but officials acknowledge that the possibility of an external breach appears limited, given the controlled entry points and continuous monitoring. This has led to a growing focus on the possibility of an insider role or a breach facilitated through internal access. While police have not officially confirmed this angle, sources indicate that the probe was exploring all possibilities, including staff movement, access privileges and any anomalies in routine security operations. With both material value and historical significance at stake, the case has drawn considerable public and institutional attention. The police are expected to scale up forensic analysis and surveillance review in the coming days.
