Probe begins in Palani idol case

Idol Theft Smuggling Prevention Wing IG Pon Manickavel interrogated incumbent Joint Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department Selvaraj in this connection, police said. 

Those involved in the making of the idol would also be questioned, they said. 

According to temple sources, nearly 200 kg of gold had been received for making the idol of the presiding deity, Lord Muruga. 

During a recent inspection of the new idol, a team of metallurgists from IIT-Madras found that it was sculpted without the specified quantities of metals, including the gold.The experts concluded that there was a vast difference between the weight of gold used in making the idol and what had been accounted. 

There were also complaints regarding “donor-sponsored articles given to some of the big temples in the state,” and details were being collected, police said. 

On March 25, renowned sculptor Muthiah Sthapathi and former temple executive officer K K Raj were arrested in Chennai and Coimbatore respectively, in this connection.