Kochi, Jan. 27 -- The Kerala High court on Tuesday harshly criticized the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the Sabarmala temple gold loot, for failing to file the charge sheet within the mandatory 90-day period. This procedural delay has allowed key accused individuals to obtain statutory (natural) bail, which the court warned could create public doubt regarding the integrity of the investigation.
A single bench of Justice Badaruddin criticized the SIT while considering a petition filed by Pankaj Bhandari, CEO,Smart Creations, an accused in the case, seeking his release from jail by quashing his inclusion as an accused in the case, said that the delay in filing charge sheets allowed accused persons to walk free on statutory bail. ...