Kollam, 20 Feb (H.S):The Vigilance Court in Kollam is set to pronounce its order today on the bail petition filed by former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A. Padmakumar in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case. The court had completed hearing arguments in the matter yesterday and reserved its verdict for today.
Padmakumar approached the court seeking statutory bail, pointing out that 90 days of remand in the Kattillapally gold missing case have been completed. Under criminal procedure law, an accused is entitled to default or statutory bail if the investigation is not completed and the charge sheet is not filed within the stipulated 90-day period in serious offences. Legal sources indicate that the court may grant him statutory bail in the Kattillapally case on this ground.
However, even if bail is granted in that case, Padmakumar is unlikely to walk out of prison immediately. He continues to remain in judicial custody in connection with the related Dwarapalaka idol case, in which his arrest was recorded separately by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) while he was already under remand.
Padmakumar was first arrested on November 20, 2025, in connection with the alleged gold theft at Kattillapally linked to the Sabarimala temple. While he was in remand for that case, the SIT subsequently registered his arrest in the Dwarapalaka sculpture case as well, further complicating his legal situation.
With the completion of 90 days in custody in the Kattillapally case, he moved the Vigilance Court seeking statutory bail. Earlier, other accused in the case, including Unnikrishnan Potti and N. Vasu, had secured statutory bail after completing the mandated remand period and were released from jail.
The court’s order today is expected to clarify Padmakumar’s immediate legal position. Even if granted bail in one case, his continued detention in the parallel Dwarapalaka case means that his release will depend on the outcome of proceedings in that matter as well.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
