Padmakumar gets statutory bail in Sabarimala gold theft case
Padmakumar gets statutory bail in Sabarimala gold theft case
The Kollam court grants conditional statutory bail to A. Padmakumar in the Sabarimala 'door frame' gold theft case, while he remains in custody on a separate remand for Dwarapalaka theft.
A. Padmakumar, former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board, was granted conditional statutory bail by the Kollam Vigilance Court in the Sabarimala temple gold theft case linked to the so-called 'door frame' theft. The court allowed the bail after the Special Investigation Team failed to file a chargesheet within the mandatory 90-day remand period. Padmakumar, who was arrested on November 20, 2025, is the eighth accused in the case, having been implicated in his role as the then-president of the TDB. Despite obtaining bail in this particular charge, he will remain in custody due to ongoing remand in a separate case involving alleged gold theft from the temple’s Dwarapalaka sculptures.
Legal representatives for the accused indicated plans to pursue a fresh bail application for the second case once the 90-day remand window expires. Several other key figures in the wider investigation have already been granted bail and released, including Unnikrishnan Potti, Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, Murari Babu, D. Sudheesh Kumar, S. Sreekumar, and N. Vasu. Former Thiruvabharanam Commissioner K.S. Baiju continues to remain behind bars as the Dwarapalaka-related case proceeds.
In parallel developments, the Dwarapalaka-related allegations and the broader Sabarimala gold theft probe have drawn attention to procedural timelines and the balance between custody and bail in high-profile temple-related cases. Supporters of due process emphasize that delays in chargesheets can shape outcomes, while others call for swift resolution given the temple’s symbolic importance.
As the legal process continues, Padmakumar’s team has signaled readiness to seek further relief, and observers are watching closely how the separate remand and the door-frame case transition will unfold in the weeks ahead.
