Tamil Nadu’s chief sculptor Muthiah arrested

Muthiah was arrested in Chennai and is being taken to Kumbakonam to be produced before the designated court on Monday.

The then executive officer of the temple KK Raja, relative of a minister, was also arrested in connection with the alleged malpractice while making a new idol 14 years ago. 

The sleuths believe that the new idol was made with a view to smuggle it out of the country. Police believe that Muthiah, who made the idol in his facility in Kelambakkam, had swindled gold during the creation and failed to give an account of the gold in the 41 kg wastage while making the idol. The idol turned dark in six months’ time and was kept in a room in Palani temple and not in the sanctum sanctorum. 

The idol wing headed by inspector general of police, AG Pon Manickavel, had used assistance of experts from IIT, Madras, to assess the contents of the idol, before initiating legal action against the chief sculptor. Police said that the arrested duo had caused a loss of Rs1.31 crore to the government through this act.