The Kerala High Court on Tuesday orally indicated that it is not inclined to cancel the bail granted to senior thantri (temple priest) Kandararu Rajeevaru in the Sabarimala gold misappropriation case. [State of Kerala v Kandararu Rajeevaru @ Rajeev T].
Justice A Badharudeen said that it may delete the adverse remarks made by the vigilance court against the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the gold misappropriation case.
However, the bail granted by vigilance court to the thanthri will not be cancelled, the judge said.
The matter has been posted for further consideration on June 3.
The observations were made during the hearing of the State government’s plea seeking cancellation of Rajeevaru’s bail and removal of critical findings in the trial court’s order concerning the SIT’s investigation.
The High Court had earlier passed an interim order staying the adverse observations made by the special court against the investigation and the investigating officer.
The case relates to alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala Temple, including gold-plated coverings of the Dwarapalaka idols and elements of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum). The discrepancy surfaced after sacred artefacts weighing about 42,800 grams were sent for repair and later found to weigh significantly less upon return.
According to the prosecution, the gold was removed for repairs under the sponsorship of the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti.
The senior thantri is among those accused of having facilitated the process by supporting the proposal for repairs, which led to the temple authorities handing over the items.
The SIT has further alleged that the thantri was present during the preparation of mahazars documenting the removal of the artefacts and had signed records describing them as “copper plates” instead of “gold-cladded copper plates,” thereby aiding the alleged misappropriation.
Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru was arrested by the SIT in January this year.
A vigilance court in Kollam granted bail to Rajeevaru after observing that no prima facie material had been produced to establish his involvement in a criminal conspiracy with Potti.
The court had also made critical remarks about the SIT’s investigation, noting a lack of direct evidence linking the accused.
The SIT argued before the High Court that the trial court had overlooked witness statements and documentary material indicating a close association between Rajeevaru and the prime accused. It also contended that the vigilance court’s findings amounted to a “mini trial” at the bail stage and could prejudice the ongoing investigation.
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