Sabarimala gold case: Vigilance court grants bail to Unnikrishnan Potty

A vigilance court in Kollam granted statutory bail to Unnikrishnan Potty in the second Sabarimala gold misappropriation case. The relief was given as the SIT failed to file charge sheets within the stipulated time

Kollam (Kerala): A vigilance court here on Wednesday granted statutory bail to prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty in the second case of alleged misappropriation of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols of the Sabarimala temple.

Bengaluru-based businessman Potty had on January 21 secured statutory bail in the case related to alleged misappropriation of gold from the door frames of the temple’s Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum).

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The court granted him the relief as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the cases related to the Sabarimala gold loss has not yet filed its charge sheet in the two matters within the stipulated 90 days after the arrest of the accused.

Public prosecutor Siju Rajan, representing the SIT, had opposed the grant of bail to Potty.

Getting bail in both cases has paved the way for Potty to be released from jail.

Similar relief has already been obtained by former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) administrative officers B Murari Babu and S Sreekumar as the chargesheet was not filed within the stipulated time.

Sreekumar has not been made an accused in the second case involving the loss of gold from the door frames of the Sreekovil.

Besides them, TDB executive officer D Sudheesh Kumar got the same relief on the same grounds on Monday.

The SIT has arrested 12 persons, including two former TDB presidents, to date.