Chennai: Though certain officials in the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department may cry foul over the ‘retribution’ in the idol theft case and misappropriation in making the ‘gold’ idol of Lord Somaskandar of the ancient Sri Ekambaranathar temple, Kancheepuram, the transferring of the idol theft cases to the CBI, may signal the end of idol wing, say devotees.
Even as the support for idol wing IG Pon Manikavel swells among the public and Opposition parties including the BJP and the Hindu ‘crusader’ - the Hindu Munnani, sources in the HR & CE claim the idol wing police have been ‘biased’ and that the wing needlessly targeted the department officials. Additional commissioner of HR & CE M. Kavitha, who was arrested on July 31 in the alleged misappropriation in making the gold idol of the Lord Somaskandar (of 5.75 kg gold but not a gram could be found) by the Idol Wing police (from Chennai) and produced in Kumbakonam court, had reportedly claimed that she had merely executed the orders of a former commissioner in the department.
Days before her arrest the incident of an idol of a peacock, considered to be Goddess Karpagambal, who performed puja for Lord Kapaleeswarar under a ‘punnai’ tree in Mylapore, had allegedly gone missing from the renowned Sri Kapaleeswarar temple here. Seeking the truth to be exposed in this case, Srinivasan a devotee from Mylapore, wondered if the CBI would investigate this idol ‘missing case’ as well. He however expressed the hope that the work of the Idol Wing should be recognised by the CBI which would take over complete investigation.
As per the notification issued by the government, “under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (Central Act 25 of 1946), the Governor of Tamil Nadu thereby accords his consent to the extension of the powers and jurisdiction of members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment in the whole of state of Tamil Nadu to investigate all under investigation cases being investigated by the Special Team constituted for the idol theft cases and in all such future cases.”
Expressing dismay, BJP state president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan said the transfer of cases only indicated that the state government did not have faith on Pon Manickavel. “This has only given credence to apprehensions that the real culprits may be allowed to go scot-free,” Dr Tamilisai said.
