Gold allegedly stolen from the Sabarimala Temple was used for decorating and renovating flagpoles in other temples, according to a key statement made to investigators by Pankaj Bhandari.
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday stayed the remarks made by the Vigilance Court, Kollam, in its order granting bail to Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru in connection with the alleged gold theft from the Sabarimala temple.
In a notable shift from its earlier unequivocal support for the entry of women of menstruating age into the famed Sabarimala Temple, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala has told the Supreme Court of India that the issue should be decided only after considering the views of religious scholars and social reformers.
Speaking to the media after visiting Thantri Rajeevaru, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital here, Chandrasekhar said that Thanthri was arrested without an iota of evidence against him.
He revealed that he was the one who advised the Thantri to close the temple when young women arrived to climb the hill shrine and said he assured the Thantri that this would not be a contempt of court.
A division bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and KV Jayakumar said the SIT must ensure that the actual perpetrators are brought to light and the probe is carried out discreetly, with integrity.
The Court also stated that the state police chief should directly intervene in the matters if necessary.
Says 'atrocities' committed by LDF govt against Ayyappa devotees is 'deplorable'
According to the reports, as many as 246 people have booked through the virtual queue system for darshan today.
On October 19, 2018, Fathima along with another lady accompanied by a top police official and 100 other policemen tried to go up to the temple.
