ALAPPUZHA: The Travancore Deva-swom Board (TDB) has reinstated L. Sandeep, a non-Brahmin priest at Ambalappuzha Sreekrishna Swamy temple, who was suspended after Devaswom Vigilance found lapses along with three others following disappearance of precious pedant in April last year. The other three were reinstated earlier. Mr Sandeep received a letter from the TDB on Friday saying he was transferred from Amba-lappuzha group to Neyyattinkara group.
“Sandeep is reinstated after it was realised that he had no role in the disappearance of ornament. The Chief Vigilance and Security Officer, TDB, has also given no objection certificate in re-inducting to the service,” it said. The TDB decision follows a Kerala High Court order on December 8 which directed the TDB to pass orders on his petition to reinstate him in one month. The other accused, then administrative officer J. Murkesan was taken back to the service on January 19 while Baburaj Namboodiri, the chief priest, was replaced with another member of his family as per the custom in November last.
S. Reghunathan Nair, another accused, was promoted and is currently serving as deputy devaswom commissioner, Haripad. Mr Sandeep said that he was happy and will join Neyyattinkara group on Saturday itself. TDB chief vigilance and security officer had submitted a report to the then president Prayar Gopalakrishnan on April 25 last year indicting the four for their lapses in connection with the disappearance of sacred ornaments from the temple on April 19. The ornaments, however, reappeared on May 23 as the police speeded up probe. The case is currently being investigated by the special temple anti-theft squad (STATS).
