Sabarimala gold theft case: SIT quizzes Chennai CEO again

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) again questioned Smart Creation CEO Pankaj Bhandari in the Sabarimala gold theft case. Pankaj Bhandari and two employees were questioned on Monday. They were released only at night. The statements of all the members of the board, headed by P S Prasanth, will be recorded. The Thantri stated that he gave permission to take away the Dwarapalakas as per the board's instructions.

Meanwhile, the Kollam Vigilance Court remanded Unnikrishnan Potty and Murari Babu, the first accused in the gold theft case, to the custody of the Special Investigation Team for two days. Vigilance Court Judge Dr C.S. Mohit rejected the bail application of former Sabarimala executive officer D. Sudheesh Kumar.

Murari Babu was remanded in custody in the Dwarapalaka case, and Unnikrishnan Potty in the golden doorframes theft case. The court action was taken after considering the application of the Special Investigation Team after the agency requested both of them into custody for questioning based on newly collected evidence. Murari Babu's phone was taken into custody by the SIT. The phone is locked using facial recognition. Murari Babu’s custody is needed to examine the phone in detail.