Kollam (Kerala), February 18 A vigilance court here on Wednesday granted bail to Sabarimala tantri (chief priest) Kandararu Rajeevaru in the cases related to alleged misappropriation of gold from the Lord Ayyappa shrine, according to police sources.
Rajeevaru is the 16th accused in the case concerning the loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and is also accused in A-13, which pertains to the loss of precious metal from the door frames of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum).
He was granted bail in both cases, the sources said.
The detailed order is pending.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is investigating the cases has alleged that Rajeevaru was aware that gold-plated plates were removed from the Sabarimala temple without following the prescribed procedures in 2019, and that he failed to report this to the relevant authorities.