In a strongly worded bail order, the court said that the Kerala Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) failed to establish any “prima facie materials to link the petitioner in the alleged conspiracy by any means”.
Investigators said N Vasu, a CPM leader and former TDB president, authorised the movement of gold-plated sheets for electroplating and failed to act when informed about leftover temple gold being diverted for personal use.
The SIT, formed after the directions of the Kerala High Court, has been probing two cases relating to the theft of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and the loss of gold from the Sreekovil door frames at Sabarimala temple.
Sachchidananda Swami of Shivgiri Mutt says that tradition of visiting temples without shirt should be abolished, calling it a kind of casteism, Kerala govt agrees