Overview
- The SIT told courts that gold was stripped from seven copper plates at the Prabha Mandalam, including motifs of Shiva and Vyali, with the metal chemically separated at Smart Creations in Chennai and linked to jeweller Govardhan Roddam.
- Pankaj Bhandari produced 109.243 grams and Govardhan Roddam 474.960 grams, amounts investigators say fall well short of what the plated artefacts should contain.
- Scientific analysis by VSSC in Thiruvananthapuram has been requested to measure the original gold content on various temple fittings and quantify losses.
- Ten arrests have been made so far, including former Travancore Devaswom Board office-bearers; the SIT has sought custody of Unnikrishnan Potty, Bhandari and Roddam for further questioning.
- Case records note that 42.100 kg of gold-clad copper plates were handed over for 2019 electroplating outside the temple in breach of norms, while the Kerala Chief Minister denies interference as opposition leaders allege leaks and pressure on the probe.