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Role of Jaya’s astrologer to be probed in Mylapore temple idol swap case
Probing the swapping of an idol of peacock at Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore, the Idol Wing sleuths may question famous Kerala-based astrologer Unnikrishna Panicker, who was advising the late CM Jayalalithaa, as it was Panicker who had reportedly advised the change of stone idol during ‘devaprasnam’ in 2004.
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Idol Wing officers said that the role of the astrologer would be probed to know the status of missing peacock idol. It may be noted that the sleuths on Sunday had arrested N Thirumagal, Additional Commissioner (general) of Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department for allegedly swapping a stone idol of a peacock in Kapaleeswarar temple, Mylapore.
Police noted that the antique idol of a peacock, carrying a flower on its beak, from Punnaivananathar Sannidhi in Kapaleeswarar temple, was shifted out of the temple during its consecration in 2004. It was replaced with an identical idol of the bird holding a snake in its beak. There was no detail available about what happened to the old idol, as the HR&CE officials also claim that the records regarding the change of idols were destroyed. Thirumagal wasthe executive officer of the temple in 2004.
While three other persons listed as accused in the Idol Wing case had obtained anticipatory bail, this is the first time investigators are looking at Unnikrishna Panicker.
“We know who were present at the Punnaivananathar Sannidhi when the old peacock idol was replaced with the new one. We have video and audio evidences to prove their presence when the incident happened,” sources said. Sleuths believe that the antique idol might have been illegally exported by Swarnam Exports, run by State chief sculptor M Muthaiah, one of the suspects in the case.
HR&CE Addl Commissioner Thirumagal gets conditional bail, ordered to stay in Tiruchy
The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kumbakonam, on Monday granted a conditional bail to the HR and CE Additional Commissioner N Thirumagal who was arrested on Sunday in connection with cases registered by the Idol Wing police. She was ordered to stay in Tiruchy and sign in the office of the Idol Wing police every day. Thirumagal was arrested in Chennai on Sunday. Subsequently, she was produced at the residence of the Additional Judicial Magistrate Ayyappan Pillai in Kumbakonam after a medical test. The Magistrate asked the police to produce her in the morning and ordered to keep her under the custody of Kumbakonam All Women police till then. On Monday, Thirumagal was brought to the court around 11 am and the magistrate granted her conditional bail and asked her to stay in Tiruchy and sign in the office of the Idol Wing police at 10 am until further order. She was arrested in connection with an alleged swapping of the peacock idol in Kapaleeswarar temple, Mylapore. It was alleged that idol was replaced at the time of temple consecration that took place in 2004. She was the HR&CE executive officer at the time.
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