Kochi, Feb. 17 -- A Chennai-based jewellery shop worker, Kalpesh, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in Kochi for interrogation on Tuesday.

He is allegedly a key middleman involved in the illegal transfer of gold extracted from the temple's sacred door frames and idols. He transferred the gold from the Chennai firm Smart Creations to a jewellery shop in Ballari, Karnataka, at the request of the shop owner, Govardhan.

Earlier last week, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged loss of gold from artefacts at the Sabarimala temple reached the hill shrine to collect fresh samples as part of ongoing scientific analysis.

The team, led by Superintendent of Police (SP) S Sasidharan, arrived at Pampa, the base camp, in ...