In a major breakthrough in the high-profile Sabarimala gold theft case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has made two crucial arrests, significantly strengthening the prosecution's case. The arrests have shed light on the alleged methodical siphoning of gold from the temple's sacred assets and its subsequent routing into the private market.
Key Accused Apprehended in Coordinated Operation
The SIT arrested Pankaj Bhandari, the CEO of Smart Creations, the firm entrusted with work related to the temple's gold-coated structures. The second arrest is that of a Ballari-based jeweller named Govardhan, who stands accused of purchasing the stolen gold. Investigators have established that Smart Creations was the company responsible for separating gold from the metal plates removed from the dwarapalaka (gatekeeper) idol at Sabarimala. Govardhan is alleged to have bought the extracted gold, thus completing the illicit chain.
The Modus Operandi of the Gold Theft
The investigation has pieced together a clear sequence of events. According to the SIT, the gold plates taken out from Sabarimala were transported to Smart Creations' facility, where the precious metal was separated from the base material. The extracted gold was then allegedly passed on to jeweller Govardhan through an intermediary identified as Kalpesh. During earlier evidence collection in Ballari, investigators made a critical recovery, seizing more than 800 grams of gold from Govardhan's jewellery shop. The SIT believes this gold is part of the stolen consignment from the temple.
The probe has also uncovered close personal links among the accused. Officials state that Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the case, had close ties with both CEO Pankaj Bhandari and jeweller Govardhan. In a significant revelation, the SIT recorded the statement of the temple tantri, who reportedly confirmed that he was acquainted with Govardhan, had visited his jewellery shop, and was introduced to him by Potti himself.
Misleading Statements and Mounting Pressure
Investigators revealed that Bhandari initially attempted to mislead the probe by providing false statements. He first claimed that no gold plates were brought to his company and that only copper-coated plates reached his premises. He also told the SIT that his firm neither accepts gold-coated plates nor undertakes gold plating or related work involving extracted gold. These contradictory statements raised serious doubts within the investigation team. The SIT further stated that Bhandari had earlier misled the devaswom vigilance wing during the preliminary inquiry, maintaining even before court that his company only works on pure metal sheets.
These developments come against the backdrop of strong observations by the Kerala High Court, which came down heavily on the SIT. The court warned it would act against any perceived laxity in the investigation and expressed dissatisfaction over delays and a lack of urgency in arresting key accused. With these latest arrests, the sequence of events surrounding the movement and disposal of the sacred gold has become clearer, and the SIT is expected to widen the investigation further.
