Thiruvananthapuram, Dec. 19 -- The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested Smart Creation CEO Pankaj Bhandari and Karnataka's Bellary-based jewellery owner Govardhan in the Sabarimala gold theft case, Kerala DGP Ravada Chandrasekhar said on Friday.

The controversy has already had political reverberations in Kerala. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan earlier made it clear that the CPI(M) would not shield anyone found guilty. "Whoever is guilty, the party will not protect them," the Chief Minister had said, as the probe began to touch individuals with political affiliations.

The Sabarimala gold controversy centres on allegations of irregularities in the gold plating at the Sabarimala temple. This situation arose from a donation of 30.3...