Sabarimala Gold Scam: TDB ex-chief A Padmakumar gets bail in kattilapadi case

T'puram: Kollam vigilance court granted bail to former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A Padmakumar in the case relating to the alleged smuggling of gold plating from the kattilappadi (door frame) structures at Sabarimala temple. However, he will remain in jail as he did not secure bail in the case concerning the alleged theft of gold plates from the dwarapalaka idols.
Padmakumar was arrested on Nov 20, 2025, in connection with the kattilappadi case. He was arrayed as the eigth accused, in his capacity as TDB president at the time of the alleged offence. According to the special investigation team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala gold scam, the alleged theft was carried out with Padmakumar's knowledge. The SIT informed the court that what it described as TDB's ‘mysterious inaction' formed part of a planned gold misappropriation. Investigators stated that the arrest followed the collection of statements and material evidence indicating a close association between Padmakumar and Unnikrishnan Potti, the first accused in the case. Other members of the 2019 TDB — CPI leader K P Sankaradas and CPM representative N Vijayakumar — were also arrested in the case. N Vasu, who served as the devaswom commissioner during this period and later became president, was arrested earlier. In the broader Sabarimala gold misappropriation cases, Unnikrishnan Potti, N Vasu, Tanthri Kandararu Rajeevaru, former Sabarimala administrative officer K Murari Babu, former executive officer D Sudheesh Kumar and former executive officer S Sreekumar already secured bail. Former Thiruvabharanam commissioner K S Baiju was granted statutory bail in the kattilappadi case but continues to remain in custody in the dwarapalaka idols case. Arrested because of opposition to women's entry: TanthriMeanwhile, Kandararu Rajeevaru, who secured bail in both cases, alleged in his bail plea that his arrest was an act of retaliation for blocking the move to allow entry of young women into Sabarimala. He further claimed that he thwarted attempts to convert Sabarimala into a temple open on all days of the year. In his petition, the tanthri levelled serious allegations, contending that certain police officers attempted to facilitate the entry of women devotees in order to please the ruling party, and that he intervened to prevent it. He stated that he made it clear that political interference in temple affairs would not be permitted. During attempts to implement women's entry, he warned that he would stop performing pujas and step out of the temple premises. Kollam vigilance court had observed that the SIT failed to produce evidence against the tanthri in the case. The court order clarified that the responsibility for the safe custody of gold plates and other valuables rests with TDB, while the tanthri's duties are confined to ritual and ceremonial matters.