The Kerala High Court on Monday sharply criticised the Special Investigation Team handling the Sabarimala gold theft case for failing to arrest K P Sankar Das, a former member of the Travancore Devaswom Board named as an accused. Justice A Badharudeen expressed strong disapproval during the hearing, questioning the circumstances under which the accused has remained at large despite being hospitalised since his implication.

The bench remarked on the influence possibly exerted in the case, noting that Sankar Das’s son serves as a Superintendent of Police. “A person has been admitted to a hospital ever since he was arraigned an accused in the case. His son is a Superintendent of Police. What nonsense is happening in this state? I completely disagree with the investigating officer,” Justice Badharudeen observed, highlighting apparent lapses in the investigation process.

While considering bail applications filed by former TDB president A Padmakumar, former administrative officer Murari Babu, Bellary jeweller Govardhan, and other accused persons, the court suggested that the Additional Director General of Prosecution urge the state government to enact a dedicated law for safeguarding temple properties. The proposed legislation should include stringent penal provisions for dereliction of duty by officials responsible for such assets, given the recurring instances of misappropriation in various temples.

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The single bench also raised serious concerns about the functioning of the Travancore Devaswom Board itself, questioning why it allowed former employee Unnikrishnan Potti unchecked authority in administrative matters. “Why did the board permit Unnikrishnan Potti to do everything? Then what is the duty of the board? It is as good as having no devaswom board. That would be better,” the court stated, underscoring perceived institutional failures.

The prosecution alleged that Padmakumar, during his tenure as TDB president, engaged in grave official misconduct by deliberately inserting false entries in official records. Senior advocate P Vijayabhanu, representing Padmakumar, countered that any corrections were unintentional and that the charges related solely to a violation of the Devaswom Manual, which does not attract penal consequences. After hearing submissions from all sides, the court reserved its verdict on the bail petitions.

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