India, Oct. 26 -- The SIT investigating the loss of gold from the Sabarimala temple conducted searches at the apartment of prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty in Bengaluru, at a jewellery shop in Ballari, and at an office of a gold-plating firm in Chennai, officials said on Saturday.

Potty was taken to Bengaluru as part of the investigation on Friday.

Sources said the SIT searched the jewellery shop owned by Govardhan, who reportedly funded the gold-plating work of the temple's sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door frame, which was officially sponsored by Potty.

Officials said the SIT seized several gold bars from the shop. However, it is yet to be confirmed whether the seized gold was extracted from the gold-clad copper plates of the dwarap...