Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Jul 23: In connection with the theft of ornaments offered to the presiding deities of Shakhapala Subrahmanya temple and Ullakulu and Ullalthi Bachchanayaka Daivasthana at Yenekal village near Subrahmanya in the taluk by devotees to meet religious vows undertaken by them, the police have arrested priest of the temple, Murali Venkatesh, from the house of a relative at Bengaluru on Friday July 22 morning.

The theft had come into the open when handing over charge to the newly appointed committee on Tuesday July 19. It is said that the gram panchayat secretary, Monappa, who was appointed as supervisor, had left the key of the safe locker of the temple with temple employee, Nagaraja, duly reposing trust on him. Murali, it is said, misused this situation and with the help of keys, took away ornaments worth over Rs 1,90000. Murali had escaped with family on the night of Wednesday, a day before policemen undertook investigation.

After being arrested, Murali Venkatesh told the police that he had pledged these ornaments to various finance companies and cooperative banks and availed of loans.

A team led by local police circle inspector, V Krishnayya, went to different banks and found the gold ornaments there. After Murali's whereabouts came to be known, the team led by Krishnauyya went to Bengaluru and arrested him from there.