Kollam (Kerala), Jan 23 (IANS) In a significant development in the Sabarimala gold heist case, the Travancore Devaswom Board’s (TDB) suspended Administrative Officer Murari Babu, who has been in judicial custody, was on Friday granted bail by the Kollam Vigilance Court.

Murari Babu is the only serving employee of the TDB to have been arrested so far in connection with the high-profile case.

In all, the Kerala High Court-appointed SIT has arrested 13 people. Murari Babu was the second to be arrested after the prime accused, Unnikrishna Potti.

The court granted bail to Murari Babu in both the ‘Dwarapalaka’ (gatekeeper) gold plates case and the ‘Kattilappala’ (wooden panel) gold case.

The relief came after 90 days had elapsed since his arrest, making him eligible for statutory or default bail under the law due to the investigating agency’s failure to file a charge sheet within the stipulated period.

Murari Bail was granted subject to stringent conditions imposed by the court.

Arguments on his bail pleas in both cases were completed on Thursday, following which the court reserved its order.

With the favourable ruling now delivered, Murari Babu will be the first accused in the Sabarimala gold heist case to secure release on bail.

Earlier, the prime accused, Potti, had been granted statutory bail in the ‘Dwarapalaka’ case.

However, he continues to remain in remand in the ‘Kattilappala’ case, as the mandatory 90-day period has not yet been completed in that matter.

Investigators have maintained that the probe into both cases is progressing and that further arrests and recoveries cannot be ruled out.

Meanwhile, the remand of another accused, Tantri Kantarar Rajeevar, has been extended by 14 more days.

The court is scheduled to consider the Tantri’s bail plea on January 28.

The Sabarimala gold heist case, which involves allegations of misappropriation of gold plates and panels used in temple structures, has triggered widespread controversy and political debate in Kerala.

The fact that Murari Babu is the only serving Travancore Devaswom Board employee to have been arrested so far has added an additional layer of sensitivity to the case, intensifying scrutiny on the administration of one of the state’s most prominent temple bodies.

–IANS

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