Kapaleeswarar temple idol theft: Senior HR and CE official arrested

The case is linked to the alleged theft of an idol of a peacock from Punnaivananathar Sannidhi in Kapaleeswarar temple 14 years ago. The allegation is that the original peacock carrying a flower on its beak had been shifted out of the temple during its consecration in 2004 and replaced with an identical idol of the bird holding a snake on its beak.

HR&CE official had also informed the court that records regarding the change of idols were not available as those were destroyed. Thirumagal was the executive officer of the temple 2004.

Sudha Ramalingam, the lawyer representing the arrested official, noted that Supreme Court had already issued an order to give bail to Thirumagal in case of her arrest. “It was a waste of man power and resources to take her all the way to Kumbakonam to produce her before a magistrate and to release her on bail,” she said adding that idol wing sleuths are indulging in such arrests only to hit the headlines.

It may be noted that the Thirumagal is the second senior official in the HR&CE Department being arrested by the idol wing officers in the recent months.

Earlier, the sleuths had arrested another Additional Commissioner (Thirupani) M Kavitha for alleged malpractice in making a new panchaloha idol of Somaskandar in Ekambaranathar temple in Kancheepuram in July this year. It was alleged that temple officials had collected donations, including gold from devotees, to make new panchaloha idol of Somaskandar, comprising lord Shiva, Paravathi and Murugan, two years ago. It was said that the temple officials never kept any inventory of the gold collected and a devotee moved court alleging fraud. Later, a case was registered and Kavitha was arrested.