Ambalappuzha Sreekrishna Swamy temple devotees demand action against tainted official

ALAPPUZHA: The Ambalappuzha Sreekrishna Swamy temple Karma Samithy, a devotee outfit,  has demanded  action against TDB deputy commissioner S. Ragunathan Nair,  who was let off  in the case relating to  the  disappearance of the pendant from the Ambalappuzha Sreekrishna Swamy temple.

Mr D. Subhash Kumar, co-coordinator, Karma Samithy, claimed that  Mr Ajay Tharayil,  member, TDB, had promised them  action after  reading the vigilance report to them in a meeting in September. 

The vigilance inquiry had recommended action  against  two employees –melsaanthi  Babu Namboodiri and  the then administrative officer J. Murukesan-- for serous lapses,  and Mr Nair, the then assistant commissioner, Ambalappuzha group, and  Sandeep Sarma, non-Brahmin keezhsaanthi (assistant priest) for minor lapses.

Three of them are now under suspension for the last one-and-a- half months. However, Mr Nair has  been promoted  as deputy commissioner, Haripad.

“This is a clear case of injustice. We need to know why the TDB is protecting him.  We demand immediate action against Mr. Nair. Otherwise, we will  take legal steps against him,”  Mr Kumar, who is also member of Thakazhy panchayat, said.

The TDB  took  the decision against the employees except Mr. Nair  on September 13 after prolonged protest by Karma Samithy members against the lapses in the investigation. 

Mr C. Radhakrishnan, a social activist in Ambalappuzha, said  the  ornaments were missing frequently from the  Amabalappuzha temple because of the irresponsibility of  the devaswom officials.

Responding to the issue, Mr Prayar Gopalakrishnan, TDB president, said on Friday that  he would study the file in Thiruvananthapuram.