Thiruvananthapuram, 22 Dec (H.S.):The Special Investigation Team probing the Sabarimala gold heist has indicated that a large-scale conspiracy was orchestrated behind the theft, according to the remand report of Bellary-based gold merchant Govardhan and Smart Creations CEO Pankaj Bhandari, both arrested recently.

The two were produced before the Kollam Vigilance Court, and the SIT is expected to seek their custody for detailed interrogation. Bhandari has been listed as the 12th accused in the FIR, while Govardhan has been named as the 13th accused.

Investigators maintain that both men played a direct role in the theft. The SIT suspects that Unnikrishnan Potti, along with Bhandari and Govardhan, conspired with certain Devaswom Board officials to execute the plan. The arrests, therefore, are seen as a crucial step in unravelling the network behind the crime.

According to the probe team, more arrests are imminent. Devaswom Board members N. Vijayakumar and K.P. Shankaradas are likely to be questioned soon.

The SIT is also preparing to interrogate second accused Kalpesh again, following new leads that emerged from the latest arrests. The investigation has indicated that the stolen gold was first delivered to Smart Creations and later handed over to Govardhan through Kalpesh.

With the probe widening, the SIT believes that the conspiracy runs deeper than initially suspected, and the latest developments are expected to shed further light on the involvement of officials and external agents in the high-profile case.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman