The Kerala High Court has sought directions from the state government on the bail plea filed by Roddam Govardhan, a Bellary-based jeweler who has been indicted by the Special Investigation Team in the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala temple.
He was accused of misappropriating 474 grams of gold from the gilded copper coverings of the Dwarapalaka idols, which were taken to a private firm in Chennai for gilding in 2019. In this connection, he was arrested and charged with offenses under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
In his bail plea, the jeweler said he accepted the gold at the behest of Unnikrishnan Potti, the first accused in the case. He added that he had paid ₹14.97 lakh for it in 2019, including through promissory notes in favor of the CEO of Sabarimala, and that he had further donated 184 gm of gold for gilding the Sreekovil door frames.
The matter was posted for hearing on December 30.
Published – 23 Dec 2025 20:30 IST
