Unnikrishnan Potti granted bail in Sabarimala idol case; awaits release after door frame case

Kollam: Unnikrishnan Potti, the key accused in the Sabarimala gold theft, was granted bail on Tuesday in the Dwarapalaka idol case by the Kollam Vigilance Court. He had moved for default bail, pointing out that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had not filed a charge sheet within 90 days of his arrest.

However, Potti can only be released from prison after securing bail in the separate door frame case linked to the temple. The SIT investigation into the Sabarimala gold heist continues to progress.

Unnikrishnan Potti, a former priest and businessman, is at the centre of investigations involving missing gold from the Sabarimala temple. In this instance, the bail relates specifically to the Dwarapalaka idol case, while proceedings in the door frame case remain pending.

Also read: Sabarimala gold row: Court receives quantification report; Devaswom document disputes tantri’s claim

Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan welcomed past investigations by the SIT, stating that the temple theft probe has been satisfactory. However, he expressed doubts over the credibility of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), citing a loss of public confidence due to previous controversies. He highlighted that the officer who investigated the case against the Chief Minister was dismissed for bribery, emphasizing that the SIT remains diligent in its work on the Sabarimala gold heist.

The case continues to attract significant attention in Kerala, with multiple agencies involved and legal proceedings ongoing.