Kumbakonam: The controversial new icon of Lord Muruga from Dhandayuthapani temple of Palani in Dindigul district was handed over to additional judicial magistrate court at Kumbakonam on Wednesday.
The judge asked the police to keep it in the safe for icons at Nageswaran temple till the case related to the icon is over.
Accordingly, the icon was taken to the safe and kept there. It may be recalled that the 3.5 ft new icon was made in the year 2004 and installed before the original icon of Dhandayuthapani at the sanctum santorum of the temple at Palani.
It is said that the “moolavar icon” at the sanctum santorum is made of Navabashanam and was mader by a siddar Bohar and is said to be 5,000 years old.
Though the new icon was installed in 2004, it was removed following blackening of the icon. Later following complaints that some malpractices have occurred in the production of the icon, idol wing police headed by Pon. Manickavel, Inspector Generral of police registered a case and are investigating. The case is heard by the court at Kumbakonam.
Idol wing police arrested Muthaiah Sthapathi, who made the icon, K.K. Raja, former Joint commissioner, HR and CE who worked at Palani temple, R.Pugazhendhi,former deputy commissioner, HR and CE and jewellery staff of the temple Deivendran in this connection.
Though the police wanted to arrest P. Dhanabal, former commissioner, HR and CE, he got anticipatory bail and is staying at Kumbakonam.
The new icon, kept in double locker at Dhandayuthapani temple was taken out and yagams performed before it was moved from Palani to Kumbakonam. The icon was brought in a wooden box by Senthil, present assistant commissioner of the temple and also idol wing police under the head of Venkatraman, DSP to the court on Wednesday evening.
The icon was taken out from the box, weighed before the judge. The judge asked the police to keep it in safe at Nageswaran temple.
