If everything is entrusted to Potty, what is the role of Devaswom Board: Kerala HC on Sabarimala gold heist

The Kerala High Court on Monday came down heavily on the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) while hearing bail petitions of some of the accused in the Sabarimala gold heist case, questioning the role of the Board if all major responsibilities had been entrusted to sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty, the prime accused in the case.

A single bench of Justice A Badharudeen made the remarks while hearing arguments by the prosecution, which stated that the gold plating of the door frames and the Dwarapalaka idols had been entrusted to Unnikrishnan Potty. The court wondered why such crucial works were assigned to a single individual.

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“What is the role of the TDB if all major responsibilities were entrusted to sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty, the prime accused in the case?” the court asked.

The court was considering the bail applications of former Devaswom Board President A. Padmakumar, Bellary-based gold merchant Govardhan, and former Sabarimala Executive Officer Murari Babu. The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the case, opposed the bail pleas of the accused.

The High Court also criticised the SIT for not arresting former TDB member KP Shankaradas in connection with the Sabarimala gold heist case.

Justice Badharudeen took a strong stand against the SIT while considering the bail pleas of the three accused. Observing that one of the accused had been in hospital since the day he was named in the case, the court remarked that his son is a Superintendent of Police and that this may have influenced his continued hospitalisation. Shankaradas was a member of the TDB when A Padmakumar was its president.