NINE CONVICTED FOR STEALING 3 IDOLS FROM SERAKULAM TEMPLE IN TUTICORIN DISTRICT

MADURAI: The Kumbakonam additional chief criminal judicial magistrate court has found nine idol smugglers guilty of stealing three idols from the Somasundareswarar Nithyakalyani temple at Serakulam in Tuticorin district in 2004, and handed them varying terms of imprisonment and fine. Though the court convicted all 11 accused for the incident that happened on September 28, 2004, two of them died during trial. Serakulam police had registered a case based on a complaint from the temple priest and arrested the 11- Sellathurai, Ganesan, Mariyappan, Muthu, Dhas, Shanmugavelayutham, Murugan, Balamurugan, Sankar, Dhinakaran and Satheeshkumar. The idols of Natarajar, Sivagamiamman and Devi were recovered by the police. The chargesheet was filed on March 4, 2015 and the case was taken to file on February 6, 2020. During the trial, Murugan and Dhinakaran died. The court completed the trial and pronounced the judgment on February 27. Accused Sellathurai, Ganesan, Mariyappan, Muthu, Dhas and Shanmugavelayutham were sentenced to seven years of imprisonment and ₹7,000 fine, and three months rigorous imprisonment if the fine is not paid. Balamurugan, Sankar and Satheeshkumar were sentenced to three years imprisonment and a fine of ₹2,000, and three months imprisonment if they failed to pay the fine. A statement from the idol wing police said a special team led by inspector Sameem Banu was formed to expedite the case based on instructions from ADGP Shailesh Kumar Yadav and IG R Dhinakaran. The weekly consultation meeting held under the supervision of SP S Sakthiganesan decided to expedite cases pending in court, the release said

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