IG says evidence available to prove replacement of peacock idol

A division bench comprising Justice R Mahadevan and Justice PD Audikesavalu, who heard the plea through video conferencing, on receiving the report submitted by the IGP in a sealed cover, said the report would be perused on Monday and further hearing held.

The IGP told the court that he had obtained incriminating evidence, including electronic and other documentary evidence to establish that the idol which was reportedly made out emerald was removed and in its place a cement idol kept. He also submitted that one of the accused, who is the main culprit, is an HR and CE official and concrete evidence to show how and when the documents pertaining to the ancient peacock idol was destroyed has been obtained.

The process of replacing ancient idols with modern replicas had transpired in other temples as well, the IGP added. Pon Manickavel, who is attaining superannuation in a week, told the bench that that idol wing had worked meticulously in the past one year to unearth many such thefts and his 1000-page report reveals the cases and all those involved. He also made a mention that he and his team had worked almost 16 hours a day ever since the high court entrusted them with the probe.

The petitioner Rangarajan Narasimhan had contended that the original idol of the peacock carrying a flower on its beak had been shifted out of the temple during its consecration in 1994 and replaced with an identical idol of the bird holding a snake on its beak.