Kollam

A vigilance court in Kollam on Friday granted statutory bail to a former official of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in connection with the Sabarimala gold loss case, after investigators failed to file a charge sheet within the stipulated period.

Kollam Vigilance Court Judge Mohit CS granted bail to former Thiruvabharanam (sacred ornament) Commissioner K S Baiju in the case related to the alleged loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) plates. The bail was granted as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) did not submit the charge sheet within 90 days of Baiju’s arrest.

Baiju is the seventh accused in the Dwarapalaka case.

Earlier, on February 12, the same court had granted him bail in a second case linked to the alleged loss of gold from the doorframes of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum), where he is the fourth accused. With bail now granted in both cases, Baiju is expected to be released from jail shortly.

Police said he is the seventh person to secure bail in connection with the broader investigation.

According to the SIT, gold artefacts were allegedly handed over to the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, in 2019 when Baiju was serving as Thiruvabharanam Commissioner.

Meanwhile, Govardhan Roddam, owner of a jewellery firm in Ballari, Karnataka, has approached the court seeking bail.

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Recently, the SIT informed the Kerala High Court that the charge sheet in both cases would be filed before March 31.