Tantri challenges TDB decision

Kochi, July 26 (UNI) Sacked Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa temple tantri Kantararu Mohanararu today challenged the decision of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to remove him from the post and said it is for the head priest to decide on his participating in the temple rituals next month.

'' The TDB has no right to remove me from the post and the head priest of the Sabarimala will decide when I can enter the temple, said a visibly dejected tantri to a local television channel.

''I have been framed by forces against me as I opposed the 'devaprashanam,'' he said referring to the astrological rite conducted at the Sabarimala temple recently to find out if anything was ailing the temple.

Even though he expressed optimism about being reinstated , the tantri said he was deeply anguish over the whole episode.

Meanwhile, Kerala IGP (south zone) Arun Kumar Sinha reviewed the progress of the investigation here today but refused to divulge any details.

The Circle Inspector, who is investigating the case, said some people were questioned in this regard and the investigation was progressing well. However, no arrests were made, he added.

Dismissing reports that police acted in haste, senior police officials said the complaint of the tantri was a serious one and the police was bound to act fast before the issue snowballed into a communal problem.

Yesterday, the tantri filed a fresh complaint with the police, retracting his earlier version that he was abducted and forcibly taken to a flat, where he was robbed and photographed with a woman.

In his revised complaint filed with the Ernakulam Town Central Police, the tantri said he had gone to the flat at Valanjambalam on his own on Sunday night to pick up a maid servant.

However, while he was there, six men barged into the house and took his photographs along with a woman, who was present with the maid servant in the house.

UNI MA VV SB VV1945