Sabarimala Gold Theft Case: Former Administrative Officer Sreekumar Moves High Court for Anticipatory Bail

Kochi: In the case involving the theft of gold from the Sabarimala dwarapalaka (guardian deity) sculptural panels and the gold plating on the threshold of the sanctum door (kattillappadi), former Administrative Officer S. Sreekumar has approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. Sreekumar is the sixth accused in the case.

Sreekumar had signed as a witness in the documents that recorded the seized piece as a “copper sheet.” In his bail plea, he states that he signed the documents following the instructions of his superior Executive Officer. He also claimed that he was not responsible for the custody of valuable items in the temple. The decision to plate the structure with gold was made before he assumed office, Sreekumar said. His anticipatory bail plea had earlier been rejected by the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court, prompting him to approach the High Court.

Meanwhile, to trace the missing gold from the Sabarimala dwarapalaka panels and the sanctum door’s threshold, the special investigation team will loosen and examine the gold sheets. Samples from the sheets will be sent for scientific testing. The High Court had ordered that a scientific examination be conducted. The theft of gold from the dwarapalaka sculptures and the kattillappadi is currently being investigated as two separate cases.