'No one will escape, investigation moving in right direction'; High Court expresses stance on Sabarimala gold theft

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has reiterated that none of the accused will escape in the Sabarimala gold theft case. The court also said that the investigation is moving in the right direction. The court made this observation while considering petitions seeking a CBI probe into the case. The High Court said a little more time should be given for the investigation and assured that all those involved would be brought to justice. The petitions were filed by several persons, including BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Petitions alleging the lack of a proper investigation against higher-ups in the Devaswom Board and claiming that the probe is being influenced by government pressure have been posted for a later hearing. The Special Investigation Team has been facing strong criticism after the accused were granted bail due to the failure to file a charge sheet within the stipulated time.

Recently, the Kollam Vigilance Court granted bail to former Sabarimala Executive Officer D Sudheesh Kumar in the gold theft case. Earlier, on January 29, former Sabarimala Administrative Officer S Sreekumar was also granted bail. Former Travancore Devaswom Board Administrative Officer Murari Babu was the first accused to be granted bail in the case.