Thiruchirapalli
However, following the recommendations put forth by the Idol Wing of the police, the judge adjourned the case for further hearing to September 6.
The Idol Wing of the CB-CID had arrested former HR&CE additional commissioner (general) N Thirumagal in connection with a case related to the theft of an idol from the Kapaleeswarar temple at Mylapore in Chennai and registered a case against him.
The idol theft came to light after a complaint was lodged by Rangarajan Narasimhan of Srirangam with the idol wing, headed by IG AG Ponn Manickavel, which registered the case a few months ago. In his complaint, Rangarajan stated that the emerald-studded peacock idol at the Kapaleeswarar temple was replaced and several other idols were either stolen or replaced at the time of renovation carried out at the temple in 2004. Thirumagal was then the HR&CE executive officer at the time.
Meanwhile, prior to the commencement of investigation, Thirumagal filed an anticipatory bail petition before the Madras High Court in August, during which she told the court that she had no role in the idol replacement.
However, on December 16, 2018, Thirumagal was arrested by the Idol Wing police and the HR&CE department had also removed her from the post. Thirumagal, who came out on bail subsequently, appealed the Madras High Court for directing the department to re-employ her and relax the conditions in the bail. But the court ordered her to approach the Kumbakonam court, where the Idol Wing police led by Ponn Manickavel appeared on Tuesday and demanded not to relax any condition and claimed her involvement in the idol theft case. The case was then postponed to September 6 for further hearing.
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