Sabarimala Gold Theft: Former TDB Officers Murari Babu & N Vasu Move Kerala High Court Seeking Regular Bail

The Kerala High Court on Friday (December 5) asked the prosecution to take instructions on two bail pleas preferred by R. Murari Babu, who is the 2nd accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case.

He is the former Administrative Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and was suspended from the post of Deputy Devaswom Commissioner when the crimes were registered by the Special Investigation Team.

Babu is accused in both the crimes registered by the Crime Branch regarding the theft of gold from the dwarapalaka idols and the sideframes/lintels of the Sreekovil in Sabarimala. He was arrested on October 23 in relation to the crimes and has been in judicial custody since then. Now, he has come before the High Court seeking regular bail.

He is accused of the offences under Section 120B [Conspiracy], 403 [Dishonest misappropriation of property], 406 [Criminal breach of trust], 409 [Criminal breach of trust by public servant], 466 [Forgery of record of Court or of public register] and 467 [Forgery of valuable security] r/w Section 34 [Common intention] of the Indian Penal Code along with the offence under Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 in the FIR before the Crime Branch.

The specific allegation against Babu is that he, while working as Administrative Officer, mischaracterised the gold cladded idols and pillars as copper plates and filed a recommendation to the thantri for gold plating them, which action led to the removal and handing over of these to the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti.

In his plea, he has stated that he is innocent of the crimes alleged and that he had no dominion over the custody or entrustment over the copper plates covered with gold that are affixed to various parts of shrine. According to him, the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner is the person responsible even according to the Travancore Devaswom Manual.

"The petitioner is innocent of the allegations and he is only a scape goat at the hands of media and unfortunately the crime took place during the period he was working at Sabarimala," states his plea.

He further stated that he already underwent custodial interrogation and is prepared to cooperate with the investigation. He has also stated that his house was already searched by the investigating agency and his bank account was verified but nothing has been found against him.

He had earlier move a bail application before the Court of Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge, Kollam and the same was dismissed.

When the cases came up for consideration today, Justice A. Badharudeen gave time to prosecutor to take instructions and to file a report, if necessary. The case is posted on December 11 (Thursday) for further consideration.

N. Vasu, former President and Commissioner of the TDB, has also moved the High Court today seeking regular bail. His bail plea before the before the Court of Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge, Kollam was dismissed on Wednesday

Yesterday, the same bench had dismissed the anticipatory bail pleas of the 4th and 6th accused, two former TDB officials, arraigned in the crime involving misappropriation of gold from the dwarapalaka idols.

The bail pleas are moved by Advocates S. Rajeev, V. Vinay, M.S. Aneer, Sarath K.P., Anilkumar C.R., K.S. Kiran Krishnan, Dipa V., Akash Cherian Thomas, Azad Sunil, Maheswar P., T.P. Aravind, and Akshara S.

Case No: Bail Appl. 14394/2025 and Bail Appl. 14395/2025

Case Title: R. Murari Babu v. State of Kerala