Kollam: The Vigilance Court in Kollam on Friday granted statutory bail to former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and CPM leader A Padmakumar in one of the cases connected to the alleged Sabarimala gold theft.

Vigilance Court Judge Mohit C S allowed bail in the case relating to the reported disappearance of gold from the doorframes of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum), as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) did not file a charge sheet within 90 days of his arrest.

Despite the relief, Padmakumar will remain in jail since he has not yet secured bail in the separate case concerning the alleged loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) plates.

Padmakumar, arrayed as the eighth accused in the Sreekovil doorframe case, is a former CPM MLA. He was serving as TDB president when a decision was taken in 2019 to hand over Sabarimala artefacts for gold plating to the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti.

The SIT recently informed the Kerala High Court that charge sheets in both cases would be filed before March 31.

Police sources said Padmakumar, who is the 11th accused in the Dwarapalaka gold theft case, may become eligible for statutory bail in that case within the next two weeks.

Several other accused, including Potti, Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru and senior TDB officials, have already obtained bail and been released.

PTI