Kollam Vigilance Court Grants Bail to Unnikrishnan Potti
In the Sabarimala gold theft case, the main accused Unnikrishnan Potti has been granted bail. The Kollam Vigilance Court issued the bail order in the Dwarkapal (gatekeeper) case. Unnikrishnan Potti got bail because 90 days had passed since his arrest and the SIT failed to file the charge sheet within that period.
Although Unnikrishnan Potti, who is an accused in the Kattilappally case, has been granted bail, he will not be able to walk free. This is the first bail granted to Unnikrishnan Potti in the Sabarimala gold theft case. The investigation has not been completed. The investigation team informed the court that this is why the filing of the charge sheet is being delayed.
The court granted bail to Unnikrishnan Potti with nine conditions. He must not enter Pathanamthitta district, must not leave Kerala, must not interfere with the investigation, must not influence witnesses, and must not destroy evidence, among other conditions.
The investigation team was required to submit at least a preliminary charge sheet before the completion of 90 days, but the SIT had not been able to do so. According to Supreme Court law, if a charge sheet is not filed within 90 days, the accused are entitled to default bail as a matter of natural justice. This was the main argument raised by the defense before the court, and the court accepted it.