Sabarimala gold theft case: SIT likely to challenge bail granted to Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala golden theft lawsuit is reportedly poised to challenge the Kollam Vigilance court’s determination granting bail to the main clergyman (Tantri), Kandararu Rajeevaru, an accused successful the politically tempestuous case.

Officials said the SIT had earlier sought a ineligible sentiment connected overriding definite damning observations made by the tribunal portion granting bail to the Tantri. In its 93-page order, the tribunal had noted that the SIT had “submitted thing connected grounds oregon an iota of grounds to found immoderate affirmative engagement of the petitioner (Tantri) successful the alleged irregularities”.

Moreover, the tribunal noted that the Tantri had nary relation successful “the repairs, attraction and upkeep” of temple property, which was the sole work of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).

Officials said the SIT had reportedly received the ineligible sentiment that respective Supreme Court justices had ruled that courts should not analyse the merits of the case, including the credibility of the grounds submitted connected record, portion proceeding bail pleas, lest specified a determination prejudice the case. 

They said assorted judgments person underscored that bail orders should not dwell connected the suspects’ culpability oregon innocence and, ideally, beryllium succinct and debar overhasty deliberations connected evidence, particularly erstwhile the probe was progressing oregon astatine a nascent stage. 

The court’s reflection sparked controversy, with the Congress terming Tantri’s apprehension “wrongful and politically motivated”. The Opposition accused the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) of scapegoating the Tantri to insulate erstwhile and contiguous Devaswom Ministers, arsenic good arsenic TDB presidents, from prosecution. Various Hindu societal organisations had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) successful condemning the Tantri’s arrest. 

Chennithala slams govt

Senior Congress person Ramesh Chennithala told reporters connected Monday that the authorities had “opened the doorway for the accused successful the lawsuit to get bail” by restraining the SIT from filing chargesheets. He alleged that the authorities denied the SIT prosecution sanction.

He said the excuse that the SIT did not person chemic introspection reports successful clip to record the chargesheet wrong 90 days was suspicious. Mr Chennithala said the constabulary had taken a antithetic tack successful the histrion rape case. 

“Investigators filed a partial chargesheet successful the histrion rape lawsuit to contradict the suspects from getting statutory bail aft 90 days. The ineligible precedent begs the question of what prevented the SIT from adopting a akin attack successful the Sabarimala golden theft case. This is intelligibly a lawsuit of governmental involution successful a high-profile probe to prevention ruling beforehand figures”, helium said.