Overview
- The High Court–appointed team obtained permission to remove original panels for Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre testing to establish a scientific baseline of gold content.
- Investigators arrested Pankaj Bhandari of Smart Creations and Ballari jeweller Govardhan Roddam, citing a central role in a 2019 scheme to strip gold during restoration.
- Former Travancore Devaswom Board presidents N. Vasu and A. Padmakumar, along with temple officials K. S. Baiju, D. Sudheesh Kumar, and Murari Babu, are in judicial remand and police custody for interrogation.
- The SIT alleges Bhandari took about 400 grams from a chemical parting process and that Unnikrishnan Potti sold roughly 102 grams to Roddam, with forensic quantification pending.
- Probes focus on gold removed from Dwarapalaka, dasha avatar and zodiac carvings, sanctum doorway panels, and the Prabha Mandalam, with partial recoveries reported and the monetisation trail under scrutiny.