Unnikrishnan Potty, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold loss case, has approached the Kollam Vigilance Court seeking statutory bail in the second case registered against him. The petition relates to the alleged loss of gold from the door frames of the Sreekovil at the Sabarimala temple.
Potty had earlier secured statutory bail in a separate case linked to the loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka idol plates. He moved the latest petition on Saturday after the Special Investigation Team failed to file a charge sheet even after the completion of 90 days since his arrest. The court is scheduled to consider the plea on Monday.
If the court grants bail, Potty is likely to be released from judicial custody. Investigators have stated that Potty played a key role in initiating the electroplating of the gold-clad Dwarapalaka idols and the Sreekovil door frames in 2019. The electroplating work was carried out at a firm in Chennai, and officials suspect that the loss of gold may have occurred during this process.
Earlier, two administrative officers of the Travancore Devaswom Board were released on bail in connection with the case. The court will also hear bail petitions filed by former TDB Executive Officer D Sudheesh Kumar, who has completed 90 days of judicial custody in both cases. Kumar is named as the third accused in the Dwarapalaka gold loss case and the fifth accused in the Sreekovil door frame case.
A total of 16 accused have been booked in the Dwarapalaka gold loss case, while 13 accused are named in the Sreekovil door frame case. The SIT has stated that although the investigation is largely complete, delays in filing charge sheets were caused by pending scientific test results. Officials have indicated that charge sheets are expected to be filed within the current month.
Recently, the Kerala High Court criticised the SIT for delays in submitting charge sheets, noting that such lapses had resulted in accused persons securing statutory bail.

Prime accused moves court for statutory bail in second Sabarimala gold loss case

Sabarimala Gold Case Accused Seeks Statutory Bail

Prime accused moves court for statutory bail in second Sabarimala gold loss case

February 1, 2026 | 12:54 IST