Overview
- The court heard bail pleas of A. Padmakumar, former TDB official Murari Babu, and jeweller Roddam Govardhanan, and reserved orders.
- The bench questioned the SIT over the non-arrest of accused K.P. Sankaradas, noting his hospitalisation and the presence of his senior police officer son.
- Justice A. Badharudeen urged the State to consider a dedicated statute with penal provisions to protect devaswom properties.
- The court clarified that breaching the Devaswom Manual is not a crime by itself, though a criminal offence may arise if a duty-bound officer commits a criminal act.
- The Travancore Devaswom Board was criticised for letting prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti handle temple affairs, as the case counts 12 accused in custody and defence counsel allege coerced recovery of 474.970 grams of gold.