The Kerala High Court on Monday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of a former Special Officer at the Sabarimala temple, holding that custodial interrogation was required in a case concerning alleged financial irregularities in the sale of Adiya Sishtam Ghee, a sacred offering sold to devotees.
Justice A. Badharudeen rejected the application filed by Santosh Kumar, a resident of Mooloor in Thiruvananthapuram, who is arrayed as the first accused in the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) case.
The proceedings arise from a Division Bench order of the High Court directing the VACB to register a case and conduct an investigation based on a report submitted by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner. The report pointed to irregularities in the sale of ghee during the recently concluded pilgrimage season.
Pursuant to the directions, the VACB registered a case against 33 persons, including the petitioner, who had served in official capacities at the Sabarimala shrine.
According to the vigilance authorities, irregularities amounting to ₹36.24 lakh were detected in the ghee sales.
The petitioner sought anticipatory bail contending that:
- he has 60 per cent visual impairment,
- he had no role in the alleged irregularities, and
- his custodial arrest was not necessary for the investigation.
The High Court noted that despite claiming 60 per cent visual impairment, the petitioner had obtained a licence to ride a motorcycle.
The court further held that custodial interrogation was necessary to ascertain the missing amount and its utilisation.
Holding that the requirements for grant of anticipatory bail were not satisfied in the facts of the case, the High Court dismissed the plea, permitting the investigating agency to proceed with custodial interrogation.
