Kerala HC Denies Bail to Ex-TDB President N Vasu, Others
Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday refused bail to former TDB chairman N Vasu and two former Board officials accused in cases related to loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.
Besides Vasu, Justice A Badharudeen rejected the relief of former Thiruvabharanam Commissioner KS Baiju and former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) administrative officer B Murari Babu. The Supreme Court rejected the bail request of the three defendants.
Detailed orders are expected. The loss of gold at Sabarimala is being investigated by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Supreme Court.
Currently, the SIT has registered two cases linked to the loss of gold from the gold-plated plaques of Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) and the door frames of Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum).
The investigation is proceeding on the assumption that the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty removed the gold plates after they were taken for electroplating in 2019. Along with Potty, two former TDB presidents and four former employees of the Board of Directors have been arrested so far in the case.
