The Kollam Vigilance Court denied bail to A. Padmakumar, the former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board, in the Sabarimala gold theft case. Padmakumar, a former MLA and current secretariat member of the CPI(M) Pathanamthitta district committee, faced serious allegations. The court’s decision was part of the investigation into the disappearance of gold from Sabarimala, specifically focusing on the Dwarapalaka sculptures.
Unnikrishnan Potti, the main accused, and another individual, Murari Babu, were further remanded for 14 days by the Vigilance Court after their initial remand period expired. Potti has submitted new bail applications for both the gold theft and Dwarapalaka sculpture cases, with a hearing scheduled for January 14. Padmakumar’s previous bail plea in the related Kattillappalli case was dismissed by the Vigilance Court and subsequently by the Kerala High Court.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) alleged that Padmakumar played a role in aiding the Sabarimala gold theft and was involved in the conspiracy. In response, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan criticized the CPI(M) for allegedly protecting Padmakumar and other accused individuals. Satheesan accused the party and the government of shielding those responsible for looting temple property, questioning their motives in safeguarding influential figures described by Padmakumar as “god-like.”
The political implications of the case have intensified, drawing significant public interest due to the sensitive nature of the allegations and the involvement of prominent personalities.
