Kollam (Kerala), Feb 10 (NationPress) The Special Investigation Team (SIT), appointed by the Kerala High Court, vehemently contested the bail application of the imprisoned Sabarimala temple tantri Kantarar Rajeevar during a session at the Kollam Vigilance Court. The SIT pointed to the substantial accumulation of “massive and disproportionate wealth” and his purported enduring connection with the main suspect in the Sabarimala gold heist case.

The SIT argued that bail should categorically not be granted “under any circumstances”, revealing that the tantri had amassed bank deposits totaling Rs 2.05 crore, while his spouse held deposits nearing Rs 62 lakh.

According to the investigation team, the magnitude of these assets raises significant concerns regarding their origin, thereby necessitating continued custodial scrutiny.

The SIT further contended that Rajeevar falls under the jurisdiction of the Prevention of Corruption Act, given his association with the Sabarimala temple, which operates under the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and, consequently, the Devaswom department of the state government.

On these grounds, the prosecution argued that the charges in question are serious and involve the abuse of a public position.

Emphasizing the overarching conspiracy aspect, the SIT informed the court that the tantri and Unnikrishnan Potti, the principal accused in the Sabarimala gold heist, have known each other since 2004, indicating a longstanding relationship that predates the current allegations.

The investigators asserted that permitting bail at this juncture could obstruct the investigation, including efforts to trace financial trails and identify further beneficiaries.

Following the arguments presented by both parties, the Vigilance Court has reserved its decision regarding the bail application, scheduling the next hearing for February 18.

The inquiry into the alleged gold heist and associated financial discrepancies has so far resulted in the arrest of 13 individuals, four of whom have already obtained bail.

The SIT has indicated that additional arrests may occur as the investigation continues.

In a related update, the Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the bail request of Govardhan, a jeweler from Karnataka and another accused in the case, marking a setback in the efforts of key suspects to gain relief.

Simultaneously, the Kollam Vigilance Court is expected to announce its decisions soon regarding the bail plea of senior CPI-M leader and former TDB President, N. Vasu, whose involvement in the case is currently under scrutiny.