A vigilance court in Kollam, Kerala, has granted statutory bail to N. Vasu, the former President and Commissioner of the Travancore Devaswom Board, in the Sabarimala gold misappropriation case. Vasu, who was arrested on November 11, 2025, becomes the fifth accused to secure bail in the alleged gold-plating irregularities case. The Special Investigation Team’s failure to file a charge sheet within 90 days of his arrest led to this bail grant.
Once the procedural formalities are completed, Vasu, also a CPI-M leader, will be released from custody later today. The case revolves around allegations that gold plates were misrepresented as copper plates during Vasu’s tenure as Devaswom Commissioner. The SIT has highlighted broader irregularities involving temple assets, but delays in receiving scientific examination results hindered the charge sheet completion within the legal timeframe.
Vasu, who has been in the hospital block of Poojappura Central Jail due to health concerns since his arrest, has denied any wrongdoing. The court extended the remand of other accused individuals, Pankaj Bhandari, Govardhan, and K.S. Baiju, by 14 days. The SIT pointed out a letter from the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, requesting permission to use excess gold for a wedding, which Vasu allegedly forwarded without taking action.
Despite maintaining his innocence and claiming no plates were removed during his tenure, Vasu’s legal situation has been impacted by the SIT’s delay. The court previously emphasized the need for equal treatment among the accused, underscoring the significance of the SIT’s timing in the case’s legal proceedings.
