Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Apr 9: In a major development in connection to the case in which gold ornaments offered to Kollur Goddess Mookambika temple were stolen by the temple employees who capitalized on lack of supervision and systematic checking, retired executive officer (EO) of the temple, L S Maruti (61) was arrested on Saturday April 9 for dereliction of duty. With this, the case has got another important addition in the list of accused among the temple staff.
Udupi district superintendent of police (SP), Annamalai, providing details at a press conference held here on Saturday, said that L S Maruti had retired after serving as the executive officer of Kollur temple from 2012 to 2015. "Gold ornaments were burgled with the connivance of staff during this period. He has been charged with failing to ensure safety of temple property in spite of being in a responsible position in the temple under section 409 of Indian Penal Code, and arrested," he stated.
The investigation into the entire gamut of this theft is progressing under the close supervision of deputy superintendent of police (DySP), Manjunath Shetty. Prima facie, it has been found that the executive officer of the temple, who is responsible for temple affairs and safe keep of temple's assets, had failed to properly discharge his duties. "We invoke provisions of this particular section rarely," Annamalai added.
The SP stated that four persons including main accused, Shivaram Madiwala, have been arrested in this case so far. "We are undertaking investigation in a systematic manner and are interrogating some persons whose involvement is suspected. If necessary, even members of the temple executive committee and priests would be questioned. We are confident of busting this case in its entirety," he narrated.
Annamalai said that his department has received a number letters from devotees from Kerala, demanding the arrest of everyone involved with this theft. "We are taking into consideration all the aspects and are going ahead within the legal framework," he said.
He also exuded confidence of cracking cases of thefts in several temples in the taluk, particularly Saukoor Goddess Durgaparameshwari temple, in which investigations are under way. The department has gathered substantial information in these cases, and we are confident of arresting the accused soon," he added.
DySP Manjunath Shetty was present on the occasion.
After the irregularities running into several lacs of rupees involving Shivaram Madiwala, who was discharging duties in one of the counters at Kollur temple, came to light, it had given rise to a feeling of shock and indignation all over the district. During the investigation, it was found that 2,521.03 grams of gold ornaments out of 3,172.20 grams had gone missing under mysterious circumstances.
In the days following this disclosure, accused Gangadhar Hegde, Prasad Achar, Nagaraj Sheregar, and Ganesh Poojary, were arrested. All of them except Shivaram Madiwala have secured release on bail thereafter. There has been vociferous demand for a thorough investigation into the irregularities with the involvement of top level investigating agencies because this case has shaken the faith of lacs of ardent devotees of this centre of pilgrimage.