The Tallakulam police were baffled when a team of advocates approached them with a petition, claiming that an emerald lingam worth Rs. 100 crore was missing from the Corporation treasury. “The advocates did not have any evidence to show that the lingam was in the possession of the Corporation. They went by a newspaper report (saying the Corporation officials did not respond to a query under the Right to Information Act on the whereabouts of the lingam),” a police official said.
The advocates, under the banner — Inter-religious Advocates Association, led by S. Muthukumar, claimed that devotees visiting the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple also went to the Kunnathur Chathiram nearby to worship the lingam, and pujas were performed to the lingam thrice a day. Based on the petition, the Tallakulam (Crime) police made an entry in the community service register.
Meanwhile, the police have sent a questionnaire to the Corporation seeking details about the ‘missing’ lingam. “We have sought information on the RTI query that revolved around the priceless lingam which was worshipped at Kunnathur Sambaian Chathiram, shifting of the lingam to the Corporation treasury and other records pertaining to it,” the officer said.
However, the police official claimed that as a six-member team had been formed to probe the issue, the Corporation could reply to the questionnaire only after the panel completed its enquiry.
The officer said that as the case was pending before the High Court, the police could proceed only on the basis of a court direction. He pointed out that the police department had an Idol Wing, to deal exclusively with such cases.
