Sabarimala Gold Theft: Chief Priest Granted Bail Under Strict Conditions
The Kollam vigilance court delivered a significant ruling on Wednesday, granting bail to Kandararu Rajeevaru, the chief priest (tanthri) implicated in the high-profile Sabarimala gold theft case. This decision comes with stringent conditions that severely restrict his movements and require regular cooperation with investigators.
Stringent Bail Conditions Imposed
The court imposed multiple strict conditions for Rajeevaru's release:
- He must appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) every Tuesday and Saturday without fail
- He is completely prohibited from entering Pathanamthitta district, where the Sabarimala temple is located
- He cannot leave Kerala state without obtaining explicit permission from the court
- He must surrender his passport to authorities immediately
The court also considered Rajeevaru's health condition while evaluating his bail application, though specific details about his health concerns were not disclosed in the proceedings.
Court's Assessment of Evidence
The bail verdict specifically addressed applications submitted in both the kattilapadi (treasury) and dwarapalaka (gatekeeper deity) aspects of the case. In its assessment, the court determined that currently there is no direct evidence linking Rajeevaru to the actual gold heist at Sabarimala temple.
This finding represents a substantial setback for the SIT, which has been investigating the high-value theft that has captured statewide attention. The prosecution failed to establish a direct connection between Rajeevaru and co-accused Unnikrishnan Potti during the bail hearing.
Financial Investigation and Defense Arguments
During the proceedings, the SIT presented what they described as crucial evidence regarding wealth accumulation by Rajeevaru and his wife. Investigators discovered large unexplained deposits in bank accounts held in their names, raising questions about the sources of these funds.
The prosecution strongly argued for a detailed investigation into the financial background of the accused, describing the discovered deposits as suspicious and warranting further scrutiny. However, Rajeevaru's defense maintained that his role was strictly limited to ritualistic matters at the temple and that he had no involvement whatsoever in the gold theft operation.
The court ultimately accepted the argument that Rajeevaru's authority and responsibilities were confined to ritualistic powers within the temple hierarchy.
Case Context and Significance
Rajeevaru was arrested on January 9 and spent 41 days in custody before securing his release through this bail order. He becomes the sixth accused to receive bail in this sprawling case and only the second to be granted bail before completing 90 days in custody.
Former administrative officer S Sreekumar previously received similar pre-90-day bail, establishing a pattern that suggests the court is carefully weighing the evidence presented against each individual accused rather than treating all defendants uniformly.
The Sabarimala gold theft case continues to unfold with multiple layers of investigation, including the financial probe that remains active despite this bail decision. The SIT now faces increased pressure to strengthen its evidence collection as the legal process moves forward.
