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Sabarimala Gold Probe Sees First Release as Court Grants Statutory Bail to Former TDB Officer

The Kollam Vigilance Court cited the 90-day lapse in filing charge sheets, a delay now central to criticism of the investigation.

Overview

  • Former Travancore Devaswom Board official Murari Babu received statutory bail in both the Dwarapalaka idol and Sreekovil doorframe cases after investigators missed the 90-day deadline.
  • Prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti remains in custody in the doorframe case despite earlier statutory bail in the idol matter, with the filing deadline still pending.
  • The Vigilance court granted one-day custody of senior tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru for interrogation and later extended his remand by 14 days, with a bail hearing set for January 28.
  • The Special Investigation Team submitted metal samples from old temple doors and a seized hard disk to the court seeking forensic and expert analysis, with a High Court–mandated status report due by February 9.
  • Opposition leaders, including V. D. Satheeshan and K. C. Venugopal, alleged government pressure on the SIT that enabled bail through delays, with Congress announcing protests on January 27.