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Ernakulam: Revealing more involvement and the wide networks of the accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, the SIT report has stated that Pankaj Bhandari, chief executive officer of Chennai-based Smart Creations, and Govardhan, a Bellari-based jeweler. As per the SIT, both had a key role in Sabarimala gold theft case.
Their involvement was revealed by the first accused in the case Unnikrishnan Potty.
The remand report filed by the Special Investigation Team before the Kollam Vigilance court said evidence revealing the involvement of the duo in the subterfuge were accessed during the course of the probe. The two aided in the gold theft and later tried to mask the offences committed by the main accused by giving false testimony.
The two were arrested by the SIT on Friday after questioning them for hours, which revealed that the gold theft had an inter-state link. The gold-plated sheets from the Sabarimala door frame and dwarapalaka idols were taken to Smart Creations on the pretext of carrying out maintenance work.
The gold from the sheets was extracted and a part of that was later sold to the Ballari-based jeweller. The SIT had earlier recovered about 400 g of gold from the Ballari jewellery, which they said was part of the booty. The SIT’s suspect that the rest of the stolen gold might have been sold for a high price on account of its religious value, the sources added.
The SIT during the course of its investigation found that Govardhan had connected prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti with Bhandari.
According to investigators, gold-plated sheets removed from the Sabarimala door frame and the dwarapalaka idols had been sent to Smart Creations for repair work. About 100 grams of gold was reportedly given to the firm as remuneration for the work.
Sources said the SIT found that the gold paid to Bhandari as remuneration belonged to Sabarimala and that he was aware of its origin. A portion of the gold allegedly extracted from the sheets was later sent to Govardhan through Kalpesh, who acted as a courier, the sources added.
Kerala High court flags stagnation in the ongoing probe
The Kerala High Court flagged apparent stagnation in the probe into the Sabarimala gold scam and raised doubts over the selective arraignment of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) members by the Special Investigation Team.
The court, which expressed concern over the slow pace of the probe, also flayed the SIT for not proceeding against advocate N Vijayakumar and K P Sankar Das, who were members of the TDB in 2019.
“It is surprising to note that, when asked whether Vijayakumar and Sankar Das were arraigned and arrested, the prosecution submitted it has not been done so far,” the court observed.
