Sabarimala Gold Missing: Kerala HC Reserves Bail Verdict for Murari Babu

In a bail plea hearing, the Kerala High Court reserved its verdict on Murari Babu, the former administrative officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board, in the Sabarimala gold misappropriation case. Babu is the second accused in the case, which has unsettled temple trustees and spurred a broader examination of asset management at the temple.

During the arguments, a bench led by Justice A. Badharudeen orally sought the minutes of a board meeting where it was decided that the gold-plated coverings would be handed over to Unnikrishnan Potti, the businessman and prime accused in the case. The court said it needed to see who all were responsible for that decision and stressed that the probe must be thorough, with the roles of Travancore Devaswom Board officials clearly ascertained before any final conclusions.

On the custody issue, the court asked whether Murari Babu should be kept in custody pending the investigation. The prosecution contended that continued custody was necessary to access a device that uses face-id to retrieve data relevant to the case, a point that could tie together the sequence of decisions at the board level with the alleged misappropriation.

The proceedings reflect ongoing scrutiny of temple administration and asset handling in a case that has captured public attention in Kerala. The verdict on the bail plea will determine how quickly the investigation proceeds and what edge the court believes is needed to ensure a fair and complete probe.

With the hearing drawing to a close, legal observers note that this bail decision could have wider implications for accountability within temple bodies and the management of sacred assets, underscoring the delicate balance between due process and expedient investigation in high-profile cases.

Cover image source: Sabarimala gold theft case: Vigilance court denies former TDB president A. Padmakumar bail 🔗

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