The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has presented a detailed report to the Kerala High Court uncovering a carefully orchestrated conspiracy in the Sabarimala gold smuggling case. The report exposes a large-scale theft scheme involving key figures like Unnikrishnan Potti, Pankaj Bhandari, and gold trader Govardhan. The investigation highlights the organized nature of the crime, meticulously planned to avoid detection.
The SIT report discloses that the accused held a secret meeting in Bengaluru in October 2025 to strategize the operation, which was revealed during court proceedings. Discussions during the meeting included plans for potential implications and tactics to hide the conspiracy. The report details how gold was smuggled from the temple’s sanctum sanctorum, including from door-guardian sculptures and plank panels.
Investigators recovered 409 grams of gold from the panels, which eventually made its way to trader Govardhan. The report also points out suspicious financial transactions linked to temple offerings, indicating efforts to mask the crime. Emphasizing the theft as a significant, premeditated robbery, the SIT stresses the need for scientific examination of the recovered gold to determine the full extent of the theft.
The investigation team has requested the court to withhold bail for the accused until the gold analysis is completed. The High Court had previously extended the investigation period at the SIT’s request, granting six more weeks for further inquiries. Currently, 15 individuals are implicated in gold smuggling from the temple, with 10 already arrested and in custody. The detailed SIT report is anticipated to play a crucial role in shaping the upcoming legal proceedings.
