SIT to challenge bail for Sabarimala Tantri in gold theft case
SIT to challenge bail for Sabarimala Tantri in gold theft case
SIT plans to press ahead against bail granted to Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru in the Sabarimala gold theft case, citing legal opinions and ongoing investigations amid political fallout.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala gold theft case is reportedly poised to challenge the Kollam Vigilance court’s decision granting bail to the chief priest, Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru. Officials said the SIT had earlier sought a legal opinion on overriding certain damning observations made by the court in its 93-page order, which noted that the SIT had not established the Tantri’s positive involvement in the alleged irregularities. It also highlighted that the Tantri had no role in repairs, maintenance, or upkeep of temple property, a responsibility assigned to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).
According to insiders, the legal opinion suggested that several Supreme Court judgments advise courts not to delve into the merits of the case or the credibility of the evidence while hearing bail pleas, lest such scrutiny prejudice ongoing investigations. The development has sparked controversy, with the Congress terming Tantri’s arrest as wrongful and politically motivated, and alleging a CMO-linked attempt to shield other Devaswom ministers and board presidents from prosecution.
The bail order, which drew sharp political reactions, has now become a focal point in Kerala’s parliamentary discourse as the state Assembly resumes amid opposition uproar over the gold theft case. Officials emphasise that the SIT’s challenge aims to ensure that bail proceedings do not prejudice the investigation or prematurely prejudge culpability, especially when the inquiry remains at a nascent stage.
If the SIT proceeds with the challenge, the legal battle could shape the trajectory of the case and influence how future bail requests are evaluated in high-profile temple property cases, as investigators press for a thorough, record-based review rather than a rapid conclusion.
