In a setback to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the Sabarimala gold heist case, the Kollam Vigilance Court on Thursday granted statutory bail to prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty in the second case registered against him.
Potty was granted bail in the case pertaining to the alleged theft of gold from the door frames of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple after the SIT failed to file its charge sheet within 90 days of his arrest. Earlier, the court had granted him bail in the dwarapalaka idols case as well on similar grounds.
Considering the gravity of the offence, the court imposed strict conditions on bail. Potty has been barred from entering Pathanamthitta district, directed to surrender his passport, and restrained from influencing witnesses. He has also been prohibited from leaving the state without permission.
Potty, who has been in custody for months, is released from the Thiruvananthapuram special sub jail on Thursday evening. With this, Potty becomes the fourth accused to secure bail in the case
Ahead of Potty, three of his co-accused had obtained statutory bail. Former Sabarimala administrative officer Murari Babu, former Sabarimala executive officer Sudeesh Kumar, and former administrative officer S Sreekumar had secured bail earlier.
Potty is accused of conspiring to execute the pilferage of gold from Sabarimala artefacts under the pretext of carrying out maintenance works in Chennai.