Stephen Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (MS)
Kasargod, Nov 5: Manjeshwar police arrested accused temple priest who stole golden ornaments from the temple and escaped.
Police arrested priest Deepak Namboodiri from Thiruvananthapuram. Deepak had sold the gold. Police have recovered the same. The theft occurred on October 29.
The accused had stolen the original gold from the idol in the temple and placed fake gold on it and escaped. He was appointed to conduct pooja from October 27. On October 29, Deepak told the security that he will be going to Hosangadi market in the evening and did not return.
When the trustee of the temple called, the accused’s mobile phone was switched off. Hence, the temple authorities appointed a new priest Sridhar Bhat of Siddapur origin. When the new priest went to perform Pooja on November 1, he suspected the gold on the idol and alerted the trustee of the temple, who in turn called the police. When the gold was inspected, it came to light that it was fake.
The accused had escaped with gold weighing 5.5 sovereign including two chains.
Manjeshwar police are investigating further.