Kochi, Jan 21 (UNI) The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed the bail applications of former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A. Padmakumar and two other accused in the sensational Sabarimala gold theft case, observing that the allegations involved a serious breach of trust in the management of temple assets.
Justice A. Badharudeen, while rejecting the pleas, held that the accused could not evade responsibility at this stage of the investigation, given the gravity of the charges and the nature of the evidence placed before the court.
Apart from Padmakumar, bail was denied to B. Murari Babu, former Devaswom administrative officer, and Roddam Pandurangaiah Naga Govardhan, a jeweller based in Karnataka.
All three are accused of conspiring to misappropriate gold removed from the ‘Dwarapalaka’ idols and gold-plated structures inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple during renovation and gold-plating works.
The prosecution informed the court that large quantities of gold entrusted for temple purposes were allegedly diverted, causing substantial loss to the shrine.
The accused have been booked under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, and corruption-related offences.
Investigators argued that granting bail at this stage could adversely affect the probe, as the case involves financial trails, recovery of assets, and examination of multiple witnesses. The court agreed with the prosecution’s contention and noted that the investigation was still in a crucial phase.
Padmakumar has been in judicial custody since November, while the other accused were arrested in December following a detailed probe by the Crime Branch Special Investigation Team. Earlier bail pleas filed before lower courts had also been rejected.
The Sabarimala gold theft case, which triggered widespread public outrage, continues to be monitored closely, with parallel investigations also examining possible money-laundering angles linked to the alleged misappropriation.
Kerala HC rejects bail pleas of key accused in Sabarimala gold theft case
