Supreme Court to Hear Pankaj Bhandari's Plea Against Arrest in Sabarimala Gold Case

The Supreme Court will hear on March 19 a plea by Pankaj Bhandari, CEO of Chennai-based Smart Creations, challenging his arrest in the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. The Kerala High Court dismissed his petition against the arrest, noting a delay in producing him before the special court due to medical examination and travel but did not find the arrest illegal. The Special Investigation Team alleges Bhandari and jeweller Govardhan Roddam conspired to steal gold from temple artifacts.