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Two former government officials held in Palani temple idol case
Two former government officials who used to work in Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple in Palani were arrested on Monday for their alleged involvement in the 2004 idol case and were taken to Kumbakonam for investigation.
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Madurai
The idol wing sleuths, headed by IG (Idol Wing) Pon Manickavel, commenced the third phase of investigation in the case along with a team of experts from IIT (Madras) headed by Professor Murugian from Metallurgy department on Saturday.
On the second day of investigation they summoned Pugazhendi, former Assistant Commissioner of Palani Murugan Temple and Deivendran, former Appraiser of the temple. After interrogation, the sleuths arrested them on Monday and they were taken to Kumbakonam for further investigation.
Sources said that both Pugazhendi and Deivendran are now retired.
The scam had happened in 2004 when the idol of Utsavar, Abisega Moorthy, was replaced by a new panchaloha idol. However, soon the metal lost its colour, following which the idol was kept in the strong room along with other idols.
The first phase of investigation had begun in March and continued with the second phase in April. On Monday, the expert team and the idol wing sleuths continued their investigation at the strong room and checked the quality of the idols.
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