Sabarimala gold theft: HC seeks prosecution’s response on bail pleas of former TDB officers

The Kerala High Court directed the prosecution to obtain instructions on two bail applications filed by R Murari Babu, the second accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case.

Babu previously served as the Administrative Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and was under suspension from the role of Deputy Devaswom Commissioner when the Special Investigation Team registered the cases.

He faces allegations in both Crime Branch FIRs concerning the disappearance of gold from the dwarapalaka idols and from the gold-plated sideframes and lintels of the Sreekovil at Sabarimala. Arrested on October 23, he has remained in judicial custody and is now seeking regular bail from the High Court.

The prosecution has charged him with offences under Sections 120B, 403, 406, 409, 466, and 467 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, along with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

According to the allegations, Babu allegedly reclassified the gold-plated idols and pillars as copper plates while working as an Administrative Officer, and submitted a proposal to the thantri for re-plating. This act reportedly enabled the handover of these items to the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti.

In his petition, Babu asserts that he had no control or authority over the gold-plated copper components fixed to the temple structure and argues that the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, as per the Travancore Devaswom Manual, is the person responsible. His plea reiterates: "The petitioner is innocent of the allegations and he is only a scapegoat at the hands of the media and unfortunately the crime took place during the period he was working at Sabarimala."

He further points out that he has already undergone custodial interrogation, cooperated with investigators, and that searches of his home and scrutiny of his bank accounts yielded no incriminating material. His earlier bail plea before the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge in Kollam was rejected.

During Friday’s hearing, Justice A. Badharudeen granted time for the prosecution to respond and submit a report if required. The matter will be taken up again on December 11.

Former TDB President and Commissioner N Vasu has also filed a petition before the High Court seeking regular bail, after his earlier application before the Kollam Special Court was turned down on Wednesday. On Thursday, the same bench had declined the anticipatory bail pleas of the fourth and sixth accused—both former TDB officials—linked to the alleged misappropriation of gold from the dwarapalaka idols.

The bail applications were submitted through Advocates S Rajeev, V Vinay, M S Aneer, Sarath K P, Anilkumar C R, K S Kiran Krishnan, Dipa V, Akash Cherian Thomas, Azad Sunil, Maheswar P, T P Aravind, and Akshara S.
(With LiveLaw Inputs)