Sabarimala Gold Theft Case: Kerala High Court Reserves Verdict In Pre-Arrest Bail Pleas Of Former Devaswom Board Officials

The Kerala High Court on Friday (November 28) reserved its verdict in the anticipatory bail pleas of former Travancore Devaswom Board officials, S. Jayasree and S. Sreekumar, who are arraigned as the 4th and 6th accused in the Sabarimala Gold theft case.

The interim protection from arrest would remain until the judgments are pronounced.

Justice A. Badharudeen today conducted the proceedings in-camera at the request of the counsels. The Court orally remarked that there is some secrecy involved in the case and that it was a very serious one.

Earlier, the Division Bench monitoring the SIT investigation into the case had also directed for the conduct of in-camera proceedings.

The Bench had expressed its displeasure at the sensationalisation of the case by the media. It had also flagged the issue of contradicting and false media reports being circulated related to the case, and ordered the investigating team not to interact with the public or the media.

The alleged loss of weight of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and side frames came to light during the Court's intervention while considering a suo motu petition initiated on the basis of a report of the Special Commissioner stating that the Gold-cladded copper covering of the Dwarapalaka idols and the Peedam on which the idols were fixed, were removed without prior intimation to it.

It had then constituted the Special Investigation Team to investigate into the same, which led to the registration of two crimes. 

While Unnikrishnan Potty remains the prime accused in the case, with the Court's specific direction to look into the larger conspiracy behind the well-orchestrated crime, several former Devaswom Board officials has been arrayed as accused.

Case No: Bail Appl. 13782/2025 & Bail Appl. 13835/ 2025

Case Title: S. Sreekumar v. State of Kerala and Anr. & S. Jayasree v. State of Kerala and Ors.