Kerala’s vigilance court rejected former TDB president N Vasu’s bail plea in the Sabarimala gold loss case. The SIT, monitored by the Kerala High Court, has arrested six people so far, including two former TDB chiefs.
A vigilance court in Kollam, Kerala, on Wednesday dismissed the bail application of former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president N Vasu, who has been arrested in the high-profile investigation into the missing gold from the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door frames of the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala.
According to a lawyer involved in the case, the court rejected Vasu’s argument that he should be granted bail on medical grounds and that
“he had no role in the disappearance of gold from the Sreekovil door frames.”
Vasu, who was taken into custody in November, is one of the major accused in the ongoing probe. His arrest was considered the first major breakthrough in the case, which is being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) working under the direct supervision of the Kerala High Court.
The SIT is handling two connected cases — one about the gold that went missing from the gold-cladded plates of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols, and the second concerning the gold reportedly lost from the Sreekovil door frames.
Investigators believe the theft may have been carried out over a period of time, involving internal lapses and misuse of authority.
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So far, the SIT has arrested six people, including prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty, former TDB president N Vasu, and another former board president A Padmakumar.
The arrests have triggered strong public attention because the issue involves the Sabarimala temple — one of the most visited and culturally significant pilgrimage sites in Kerala.
The Kerala High Court has been closely monitoring the investigation as questions continue to be raised about the protection of temple assets and the accountability of those responsible for managing them.
With Vasu’s bail request being rejected, the probe is expected to move forward with more questioning, evidence collection, and scrutiny of decisions taken during his tenure at the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Authorities say the investigation is still active, and more developments are likely as the SIT examines records, statements, and possible links between the two gold-loss incidents.
The case has also sparked debate within the temple administration system, as the disappearance of gold from sacred structures has raised concerns over transparency and internal oversight.
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