Kerala HC stays remarks made by Vigilance Court, Kollam, while granting bail to Sabarimala tantri

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday stayed the remarks made by the Vigilance Court, Kollam, in its order that granted bail to Kandararu Rajeevaru, the tantri of Sabarimala, in the case pertaining to the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala temple.

It also sent a notice to the tantri in this regard. The HC was hearing a plea by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is probing the case, challenging the bail granted to the tantri by the trial court. The SIT submitted that there was crucial evidence showing the direct involvement of the tantri in the case. It contended that the trial court had ignored many facts and circumstances pertaining to the tantri’s role in the case, leading to miscarriage of justice.

While granting bail to the tantri in February, the Vigilance Court had observed that the SIT failed to produce substantive evidence to support the allegations levelled against him.

While noting that the tantri’s responsibilities were strictly limited to ritualistic and ceremonial matters of the temple, the court had observed that the tantri did not hold the authority to override the administrative decisions made by the Travancore Devaswom Board – a factor that weighed heavily in the decision to grant him bail.