Kollam, Feb. 19 -- In a significant development in the sensational Sabarimala gold misappropriation case, the Vigilance Court in Kollam has granted bail to Kandararu Rajeevaru, the Tantri (chief priest) of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple.
The court's decision is widely viewed as a setback for the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which had strongly opposed his release and sought continued custody as part of its ongoing probe.
Rajeevaru had been arraigned as an accused in connection with the alleged misappropriation of gold used in the gold-plating of the temple's door frames and the Dwarapalaka idols.
The SIT had alleged that irregularities occurred during the execution of the gold-plating work, and attempted to establish a conspiracy inv...