In a significant development in the high-profile Sabarimala temple gold theft case, Murari Babu, the suspended deputy devaswom commissioner of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), has approached the Kerala High Court seeking bail. Babu, an accused in two separate cases related to the alleged pilferage of gold from the shrine's sanctum, filed his petitions after remaining in judicial custody since his arrest on October 23.
High Court Adjourns Hearing, Seeks State's Response
A bench of Justice A Badharudeen considered the bail pleas on Friday. The court sought instructions from the state government regarding the petitions and subsequently adjourned the matter to December 11. The judge also directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case to provide the case diary and other relevant reports for the court's perusal.
Murari Babu faces serious allegations stemming from his tenure as the administrative officer of Sabarimala in 2019. The prosecution claims he dishonestly recommended repairs for the gold-clad copper encasements of the dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and the gold-clad copper plates on the north and south pillars. He is accused of misrepresenting these valuable gold-clad items as ordinary copper plates, an act that allegedly facilitated the theft.
Babu's Defense and Alleged Role in the Scam
In his bail petition, Babu has contested these allegations. He argues that his role as administrative officer was limited to overseeing ceremonies and assigned duties, and did not involve the handling of temple valuables. He states that when a person named Unnikrishnan Potti approached with an offer to repair the plates, he merely forwarded the request to the executive officer as part of routine administrative procedure.
Babu further contends that, according to the Travancore Devaswom Manual, the responsibility for the proper custody of all valuables lies with the Thiruvabharanam commissioner, not his office. He was suspended from service on October 7, shortly after the alleged theft was reported, and was arrested by the SIT two weeks later. He is listed as the second accused in the case involving theft from the dwarapalaka idols and as the sixth accused in the related case concerning theft from the door frames of the sanctum sanctorum.
Co-Accused and Former TDB President Also Seeks Bail
In a parallel legal move, N Vasu, the former president of the TDB and the third accused in the case, has also filed a bail petition in the High Court. This comes after his bail plea was dismissed by the Vigilance Special Court in Kollam. His petition will be considered by a bench of Justice K Babu on Saturday.
Vasu was arrested by the SIT on November 11 and has been in judicial custody since. The prosecution alleges that the accused, including Vasu, assisted the first accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, in misappropriating the gold, thereby obtaining wrongful gain. In his petition, Vasu asserts his innocence, claiming he only forwarded communications from subordinate officials to the board through proper channels. He has also cited cardiac-related health concerns and argued that he has fully cooperated with the investigation, making further custody unnecessary.
The developments in the High Court mark a crucial phase in the ongoing investigation into the theft that has shocked devotees and raised serious questions about the security and management of one of Kerala's most prominent temples. The SIT continues its probe as the legal battles for bail unfold.
