A Look out Circular (LOC) has been issued against M. Muthaiah, chief ‘sthapathi’ of the Arulmigu Sri Ekambaranathar Temple at Kancheepuram who is among the nine accused in the case relating to alleged misappropriation of gold while making an idol for the shrine.
The LOC was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs recently on a request from the Tamil Nadu State Police to thwart any attempt by the ‘sthapathi’ to flee abroad as the case was on. Mr. Muthaiah is the prime accused in this case.
HC direction
A high-level investigation team headed by Inspector General of Police, Idol Wing CID, A.G. Pon Manickavel, recently conducted detailed inquiries with 76-year-old Mr. Muthaiah at the IG Special Camp office in Tiruchi. Mr. Muthaiah, who had earlier filed a petition seeking Anticipatory Bail, apprehending arrest in the case, was directed by the Madras High Court to appear before the Tiruchi IG Special Camp office for inquiry. Police sources said the ‘sthapathi’ was extensively questioned on the alleged criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of gold in the making of an idol of Somaskandar for the Ekarambaranathar Temple.
The temple authorities had collected gold from the public as donation to make a new idol of Sri Somaskandar after the old one was found to be damaged. Sources said the investigating agency came to know through the near ones of Mr. Muthaiah that he was planning to flee abroad.
The Tamil Nadu police then wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs, requesting it to issue an LOC against the ‘sthapathi’.
