മുരാരി ബാബുവിന് ജാമ്യം; തന്ത്രിയുടെ റിമാന്‍ഡ് നീട്ടി

In a significant development in the Sabarimala gold theft case, the Kollam Vigilance Court has granted statutory bail to former Administrative Officer Murari Babu as the investigation team failed to file a chargesheet within 90 days. Murari Babu, who was arrested on October 21, 2026, for his alleged involvement in stealing gold from the sanctum sanctorum and dwarapalaka idols, is the first accused to be released in this high-profile case. Meanwhile, the remand of Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru has been extended for another 14 days by the trial court. The Thantri maintained his innocence during the hearing, while the investigation team claims to have found crucial evidence linking him to the main sponsor, Unnikrishnan Potti. The court is scheduled to consider the Thantri's bail application on January 28. While Unnikrishnan Potti secured bail in one case, he remains in custody due to his remand in a second theft case. This legal battle continues to grip the state as devotees demand a thorough probe into the temple's security lapses. The Vigilance department is under pressure to speed up the filing of the final report to prevent other accused from obtaining bail. The unfolding events have caused significant concern among the Sabarimala community and temple authorities. This case remains one of the most controversial religious administrative scandals in recent times.