KOLLAM: In a major development in the Sabarimala gold robbery case, former Travancore Devaswom Board President and CPM leader A. Padmakumar has been granted bail. The Kollam Vigilance Court issued a favorable order on his statutory bail plea in the ‘Dwarapalaka sculpture’ case, paving the way for his release from prison.
Padmakumar was granted default bail after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) failed to file the charge sheet within the stipulated 90-day remand period. He had already secured conditional bail on February 20 in the first case related to the ‘Kattilappali’. With bail granted in the second case as well, the former board president is expected to walk out of jail soon.
The SIT initially arrested Padmakumar on November 20, 2025, in connection with the Kattilappali case. While he was under remand, his arrest was also recorded in the Dwarapalaka sculpture case on December 4. Following the completion of 90 days in remand in both instances, he approached the court for statutory bail. After hearing detailed arguments over the past few days, the court pronounced its order today.
SIT’s Delay Benefits Accused; 7 Out on Bail
The investigation team’s delay in filing the charge sheet has proved advantageous for the accused. Including Padmakumar, seven individuals connected to the Sabarimala gold robbery have secured bail and walked out of jail so far. Five of them, including the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti, received statutory bail.
As the 90-day remand period concludes, the remaining accused are also expected to approach the court for bail. Meanwhile, the Vigilance Court is scheduled to hear a plea on the 5th from Pankaj Bhandari, the owner of Smart Creations who is currently in remand, seeking permission for medical treatment at a private hospital in Chennai.
