Kancheepuram idol case: HR and CE’s top official held

According to sources,authorities of Kancheepuram Ekambaranathar temple had planned to replace idols of the main deity of Somaskanthar, Lord Shiva, Paravathi and Murugan weighing around 50 kg and an Amman idol weighing about 65 kg after getting the approval HR and CE department. The departmentgave its clearance with an order that new idols should have 5 per cent gold.

As per the order, the temple executive officer called for gold donation from the devotees. Subsequently, the new idols were made, but it was suspected that there was a misappropriation in the handling of gold as the temple authorities had failed to maintain the account of donation by devotees. Later, a devotee filed a petition in the Kancheepuram Judicial magistrate court, which ordered the idol wing police to investigate into the allegations. 

After a thorough investigation, the idol wing police registered a case against nine persons, including the chief stapathiMuthiah, temple executive officer Murugesan, priests, Rajappa and Senthil. Among the accused, six secured anticipatory bail and Muthiah was arrested.

During the inquiry by idol wing sleuths, one of the priests admitted that they paid a bribe of Rs 5 lakh to additional commissioner Kavitha to cover up the misappropriation of gold donated by devotees. Based on the confession, the police arrested Kavitha on Tuesday at her residence in Chennai. She was later taken to the Additional Judicial Magistrate Court Kumbakonam with police protection and was produced before the Magistrate, who remanded her to 15 days judicial custody.