SIT Misses Deadline, Murari Babu Released on Statutory Bail in Temple Gold Theft

Former TDB official Murari Babu has been granted statutory bail in the Sabarimala temple gold theft case. The Kollam Vigilance Court granted him bail because the Special Investigation Team (SIT) failed to file a charge sheet even after 90 days of his arrest. Babu is accused of stealing gold from the Dwarapalak idols and the doors of the main sanctum sanctorum. He had been suspended from service.

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:05 AM (IST)
SIT Misses Deadline, Murari Babu Released on Statutory Bail in Temple Gold Theft
SIT Misses Deadline, Murari Babu Released on Statutory Bail in Temple Gold Theft

A court has allowed the bail petition of Murari Babu, a former administrative official of the TDB, in the theft case at the famous Sabarimala temple in Kerala State, India. Judge Mohit C.S., presiding over the Kollam court vigilance court in Kerala State in India, allowed the bail petition of Murari Babu on the ground that 90 days had elapsed from the time he was arrested in the case of theft from the famous Sabarimala temple in Kerala State in India, while the investigating

Babu is the second accused in the case of theft of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and the sixth accused in the case of theft of gold from the doors of the sanctum sanctorum. He would be out of prison by Friday evening. He would be the first to be released from prison in this case.

He was arrested in October last year on charges of conspiracy related to the gold theft. At the time of his arrest, Babu was serving as the Deputy Devaswom Commissioner in Haripad and was suspended from service when the gold theft came to light last year.

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Previously, Potti was granted statutory bail by the court in the Dwarapalaka idol case. The SIT has so far named 16 people as accused in the Dwarapalaka idol case and 13 in the main sanctum door case.

Muskan Kumawat Muskan Kumawat is a Journalist & Content Writer at Sangri Times English, covering a wide range of topics, including news, entertainment, and trending stories. With a strong passion for storytelling and in-depth reporting, she delivers engaging and informative content to readers.