In a significant development in the Sabarimala temple gold scam case, a court in Kollam on Monday granted bail to K.P. Sankaradas, the last remaining accused who was in custody, bringing all 13 individuals arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) out on bail.

The Special Investigation Team was constituted under the direction of the Kerala High Court to probe alleged irregularities involving gold offerings at the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple. The case has drawn widespread attention due to the scale of the allegations and the involvement of individuals linked to temple administration and related networks.

With the latest bail order, all accused persons in the two cases registered by the SIT are now out of custody. The development marks a key procedural milestone in the ongoing investigation, which continues to examine alleged discrepancies in the handling, accounting, and movement of gold offerings made by devotees at the hill shrine.

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Those named in the case include serving and former officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), former employees, gold dealers, and individuals associated with political circles. The prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, is alleged to have played a central role in what investigators describe as a broader network involving intermediaries and insiders.

The case relates to suspected irregularities in the management of gold assets offered at Sabarimala, one of India’s most prominent pilgrimage centres. The SIT probe was initiated following complaints and public concerns over possible diversion and misappropriation of temple valuables, prompting demands for stricter oversight of temple administration.

While the granting of bail does not imply acquittal, legal proceedings in the matter are expected to continue. The investigation remains under close scrutiny, with its outcome likely to influence future governance and transparency standards in temple administration in Kerala.

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