Sabarimala Gold Theft: Kerala Court Grants Statutory Bail To Former Devaswom Board President N Vasu

The Court of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge, Kollam on Wednesday (February 10) granted bail to N. Vasu, former President and Commissioner of the Travancore Devaswom Board.Vasu is arrayed as the third accused in the case relating to misappropriation of gold from the door frames of the Sreekovil of Sabarimala temple. Sri. Mohit C.S., Special Judge, passed the order granting him statutory bail. A detailed order is awaited.He was arrested on November 11, 2025 and had been in custody since then. The statutory bail has been granted to him since the Special Investigation Team investigating the crime failed to submit a final report within 90 days of arrest.As of now, Unnikrishnan Potty, N. Vasu and Murari Babu have been granted statutory bail by the Special Judge. Last month, the Special Judge had granted bail to the 6th accused in the Dwarapalaka idols case and the former Administrative Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board, S. Sreekumar.Vasu is accused of the offences punishable under Sections 403, 406, 409, 466, 467, 120B r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.The prosecution allegation is that Vasu, while acting as Devaswom Commissioner, conspired together with the other accused and facilitated pilferage of gold in the door frames of the temple. The specific allegation against him was that he initiated the pilferage by his recommendation wherein he described the door frames as “copper plates” alone while fully knowing that these were gold-cladded.Vasu had formerly served as the Vigilance Tribunal Judge during the period from 1991 to 2006. Thereafter, he was Devaswom Commissioner from 10/11/2010 to 15/03/2013 and again from 01/02/2018 to 14/03/2019. He also worked as the President of the Travancore Devaswom Board from 15/11/2019 to 14/11/2021. Vasu had earlier approached the Special Judge for bail but the same was dismissed by an order dated December 3, 2025. Subsequently, he had moved the High Court seeking bail. The High Court had also denied him bail.Recently, the High Court, which is monitoring the SIT investigation, had ordered a vigilance probe into the alleged misappropriation of cash and gold relating to the new Temple Flag Mast at Sabarimala replaced in the year 2017.Case No: Crl.MP 105/2026

Sabarimala Gold Theft: Kerala Court Grants Statutory Bail To Former Devaswom Board President N Vasu

K. Salma Jennath

Tags