Sabarimala Gold Theft: Kerala Court Grants Statutory Bail To Ex-Thiruvabharam Commissioner In Doorframes Case

The Court of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge, Kollam on Thursday (February 12) granted bail to 4th accused and former Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, K.S. Baiju, in the case relating to the misappropriation of gold from the doorframes of the Sreekovil of Sabarimala temple.

Mohit C.S., Special Judge, passed the order granting him statutory bail since the Special Investigation Team failed to file a final report in the case within 90 days of his arrest. A detailed order is awaited.

However, Baiju has not been granted bail in the Dwarapalaka idols case in which he is arrayed as the 7th accused.

The prosecution allegation is that the accused persons, knowing that the Dwarapalaka idols and doorframes were gold-cladded, entered into a conspiracy and submitted a false report that these were merely copper plates and intended to be gold-plated. They then misappropriated the gold from the idols and the doorframes.

He had earlier moved the High Court seeking bail but the same was dismissed. His case before the High Court was that he was not part of the conspiracy. Further, it was argued that Baiju was not holding office when the items were brought back and could not have known the difference in weight. But the Court felt that though this might have been the responsibility of his successor in officer, there was a duty to ensure that the items were not incorrectly described as "copper" plates when it had gold in them.

It was also contended before the Court that Baiju was at Aranmula at the time as he was sent there by the Devaswom Board President. This argument was also rejected by the Court, which observed that the plea taken was akin to an alibi and cannot be considered at the stage of granting bail.

Presently, Unnikrishnan Potty, Murari Babu, N. Vasu and S. Sreekumar are the accused who are out on bail. Today, the High Court will pronounce its verdict in the plea preferred by Smart Creations CEO Pankaj Bhandari challenging his arrest as illegal.

Case No: Crl.MP 93/2026