Govt moves Kerala HC against bail granted for Sabarimala tanthri in second gold heist case

Kochi: The state govt has filed an appeal before high court challenging the order of the special court, Kollam, granting bail to Sabarimala tanthri Kandararu Rajeevaru in the second case connected with the alleged gold heist at the Sabarimala temple.A bench of Justice K Babu admitted the plea, sought instructions from Rajeevaru, and adjourned the matter to be considered along with another petition in which the state has challenged the bail granted to him in the first case. In that petition, the state govt has also sought expunction of adverse remarks made by the special court, which it claims effectively granted him a clean chit. The matter is scheduled to be considered on May 21.Rajeevaru was arrested on Jan 16 in connection with two cases involving the alleged misappropriation of gold from the gold-clad copper plate coverings of the dwarapalaka idols, as well as from the gold-clad encasings of the door frames of the main sreekovil and two ‘prabha mandalam' plates on top of the sreekovil door frame. He was subsequently granted bail on Feb 18 after spending nearly a month in custody.While granting bail, the special court observed that the allegation of criminal conspiracy against the tanthri was not supported by any prima facie material at that stage of the investigation. The court further noted that no evidence had been adduced by the special investigation team (SIT) to establish any direct nexus between the petitioner and the first accused, apart from a bald averment regarding a close relationship between them.In an earlier petition filed by the state govt, a single bench had stayed the adverse remarks made by the special court.