Sabarimala Gold Theft Accused Bailed

Shyam Unnikrishnan, the prime accused in the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple gold theft case in India — Kerala, was granted statutory bail in a second case after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) failed to file a charge sheet within the 90-day deadline. This development has led to criticism from V. D. Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition in India — Kerala, who alleges that the investigation is being deliberately stalled and that the government, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, is shielding the accused, some of whom are linked to the India — Communist Party of India (Marxist). Other accused, including former administrative officers of the Travancore Devaswom Board, have also been granted bail. The opposition claims that the investigation is at a 'dead end' with no recovery of looted ornaments or collection of crucial evidence.