Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Kollam: In a major setback to former TDB president N Vasu, the Vigilance Enquiry Commissioner Special Court rejects his bail plea stating that there is serious misappropriation that was found in the account books. The court observed that the Sabarimala gold misappropriation allegations reflected a grave breach of trust by those entrusted with safeguarding temple assets, describing the situation as "the fence eating the crop".
Reviewing the bail plea of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) former president N Vasu, the court said the misappropriation allegations had deeply damaged public faith and stressed that any premature release of the accused could weaken the investigation and erode devotees’ confidence.
The court dismissed Vasu’s bail plea and reiterated that the allegations against him were serious and raised substantial concerns about the management of temple assets.
The prosecution submitted that Vasu, while serving as Devaswom Commissioner, forwarded a recommendation on March 6, 2019, in which he allegedly omitted a crucial detail stating that the temple door frames had already been gold-plated.
The court also pointed out that Vasu had previously served as a Vigilance Tribunal Judge and was therefore well-versed in administrative procedures. It said he could not claim that he forwarded documents without understanding their implications. His seniority and experience, the court noted, imposed a higher responsibility to protect temple property. The court held that releasing him could obstruct the investigation, given his influence and longstanding association with the Devaswom Board.
Vasu, the third accused in the case, was arrested after hours of questioning at the Crime Branch office in Eenchakkal. He served as Devaswom Commissioner from February 1, 2018, to March 14, 2019, and later as TDB president from November 2019 to November 2021.
