Man imprisoned for damaging temple properties, stealing cash

Tirupur: Tension prevailed at the ancient Avinashilingeswarar Temple at Avinashi here on Tuesday morning after a 31-year-old man removed parivattam (turbans) from the idols of deities and damaged around 10 cement kalasams.
Identifying the perpetrator as U Saravanabharathi, of Vellamadai near Savakkattupalayam at Avinashi, police said he entered the sanctum sanctorum of the main deity, stole cash and disturbed the decorations in the early hours of the day. He then attempted to break open a hundial.
A police officer said the incident came to light around 5am, when temple priest Jayasubbu opened the main door of the temple. He immediately alerted the executive officer of the Hindu religious and charitable endowments department, which informed the Avinashi police.
A police team led by inspector Rajavelu inspected the temple and noticed the movement of a stranger on the third tier of the temple rajagopuram (tower). “We caught Saravanabharathi red-handed with a bag containing a few thousands of rupees that he stole from the sanctum sanctorum,” the officer said.
After a detailed inquiry, police came to know Saravanabharathi was earlier running a bakery, which he had to shut down after incurring huge losses. So, he decided to steal from the hundial of the temple, which is more than 1,000 years old, the officer said.
“He visited the temple on Monday evening and stayed back. After damaging the kalasams and removing the parivattam from the idols of Nayanmar, he broke open the side door and entered the sanctum sanctorum. While he attempted to steal from the hundial, he didn’t succeed,” the officer said.
Coimbatore district superintendent of police V Badrinarayanan, who holds additional charge for Tirupur district, inspected the temple and held discussions with the police officers.
The Avinashi police have registered a case against Saravanabharathi under sections 153(A), 295, 451 and 380, read with 511, of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act. He was arrested and remanded in judicial custody.
Earlier, BJP and Hindu Munnani functionaries and cadres blocked Avinashi-Coimbatore Main Road, urging the government to provide additional protection for the temple.