The Kerala High Court on Thursday declined to grant anticipatory bail to S. Sreekumar, the former Administrative Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), who has been named as the 6th accused in the ongoing Sabarimala gold theft investigation. The Court also turned down the bail application of S. Jayasree, former Secretary of the TDB and the 4th accused in the case.
Serious Charges Filed Against Both Officials in Sabarimala Gold Theft Case
According to the FIR registered by the Crime Branch, the two former officials have been booked under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including:
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Section 120B – Criminal conspiracy
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Section 403 – Dishonest misappropriation of property
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Section 406 – Criminal breach of trust
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Section 409 – Breach of trust by a public servant
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Section 467 – Forgery of valuable security
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Section 34 – Acts done with common intention
These provisions indicate that the allegations involve serious financial and administrative misconduct.
SIT Investigation Ordered by the High Court in Sabarimala Gold Theft Case
The case is currently being handled by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by a Division Bench of the High Court. The Court had earlier highlighted the need to investigate the larger conspiracy linked to discrepancies in the recorded weight of gold in the Dwarapalaka idols and side frames at the Sabarimala temple.
Acting on this direction, the SIT added several former TDB officials to the list of accused, including Sreekumar and Jayasree.
Interim Protection Withdrawn in Sabarimala Gold Theft Case
Both former officials had previously received limited protection from arrest while the Court examined their anticipatory bail pleas. The hearings took place in-camera, after which the Court reserved its decision.
Final Order Issued in Sabarimala Gold Theft case
On Thursday, Justice A. Badharudeen rejected both anticipatory bail pleas. A detailed judgment explaining the reasoning behind the order will be released soon.
What Is the Sabarimala Gold Theft Case?
The Sabarimala gold theft case centers around alleged irregularities involving the gold-plated Dwarapalaka idols and side structures of the famous Sabarimala temple. The investigation gained momentum after the SIT recorded significant statements from the temple’s head priest.
Key findings during investigation:
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The role of Unnikrishnan Potti
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Details about how gold-plated sheets were removed
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Questions over the approval process
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Suspected mismanagement and irregularities within the TDB
These developments suggest a wider conspiracy and deeper administrative lapses than initially believed.
