The Kollam vigilance court on Thursday delivered significant developments in the high-profile Sabarimala temple gold theft case, extending the judicial remand of a key accused while granting conditional bail to another.
Extended Remand for Former Devaswom Board Member
Former Travancore Devaswom Board member K P Sankaradas, a prime accused in the alleged theft of gold from the sacred Sabarimala temple, saw his remand extended by another fourteen days. Due to reported physical ailments, Sankaradas was produced before the court in a wheelchair, highlighting the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding this sensitive case.
Conditional Bail Granted to Former Administrative Officer
In a parallel development, the court granted conditional bail to S Sreekumar, a former administrative officer and the sixth accused in the theft of gold from the dwarapalaka sculptures. Sreekumar had assumed the administrative officer role following the transfer of Murari Babu, just days before the removal of the gold-plated dwarapalaka coverings.
Arguments and Court Decision
Sreekumar's bail plea centered on the argument that he was merely following instructions from his superiors and had no direct involvement in the actual gold theft. The prosecution strongly opposed his bail application, contending that it could potentially hinder the ongoing investigation. However, the court ultimately rejected the prosecution's objections and granted Sreekumar conditional bail.
With this decision, Sreekumar becomes the second individual to secure bail in this case, following Murari Babu. The contrasting outcomes for Sankaradas and Sreekumar underscore the complex legal landscape of the Sabarimala gold theft investigation, which continues to unfold under judicial scrutiny.
