Supreme Court of India Grants Anticipatory Bail to S. Jayashree in Sabarimala Gold Smuggling Case
Pranav B Prem
The Supreme Court of India has granted anticipatory bail to S. Jayashree, the fourth accused in the Sabarimala gold smuggling case. She is the only accused in the case to have been granted anticipatory bail thus far. The matter was heard by a Bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma. During the hearing, the Bench observed, “All other gentlemen are in jail. You are the only person who has been granted anticipatory bail.”
During the course of the proceedings, the Bench also took note of the fact that the petitioner is a woman and observed that certain considerations may apply while dealing with applications for anticipatory bail by women accused. Senior Advocate P.B. Suresh Kumar, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the petitioner deserved anticipatory bail. He contended that there are approximately 2,500 temples under the Travancore Devaswom Board and that Jayashree was never posted at Sabarimala. It was argued that she had merely passed an order in accordance with a Board resolution.
The senior counsel further submitted that, in compliance with the Court’s earlier directions, the petitioner had appeared before the Investigating Officer and furnished her specimen signature. Justice Dipankar Datta sought clarification from the State in this regard. The State confirmed that the petitioner had appeared before the Investigating Officer and that her specimen signature had been collected. Taking note of the petitioner’s cooperation with the investigation, the Court granted anticipatory bail.
Senior Advocate P.B. Suresh Kumar, along with A. Karthik (AoR), Adarsh R., and Pranav Menon, appeared for the petitioner. C.K. Sasi, Standing Counsel, represented the State of Kerala.
