Sabarimala Temple case: BJP leader released on conditional bail

The Kerala High Court on Friday granted conditional bail to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state general secretary K Surendran in Sabarimala Temple case.

Surendran came under the judicial scrutiny for allegedly attacking a 52-year-old woman who had come to the Temple for offering prayers during the Chithira Atta Visesham. He was charged for blocking the victim, a resident of Thrissur area of the state.

The judicature today accepted Surendran's bail against a bond of Rs 2 lakh and also imposed a condition that he will not be allowed to enter Pathanamthitta district where the Temple is located till the submission of the final report.

In November, he was produced before a magistrate and remanded to 14-day judicial custody after he was charged with non-bailable offences.

On December 1, the Ranni Additional Sessions Court turned down his petition seeking bail in the case.

Sabarimala Temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples in India. It is managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board.

The Sabarimala Temple and surrounding areas witnessed a string of protests recently over the Supreme Court's decision to quash restrictions on the entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 into the holy shrine.