3 arrested in Sabarimala Tantri case

Kochi, Aug 2: Police today arrested three people, including a woman Shobha John, in connection with the attack on the sacked Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple Tantri Kandararu Mohanararu here on July 23.

A police statement said that Shobha John (38), who was allegedly running a sex racket, her relative Anil Kumar (36), a known goonda of Thiruvananthapuram and Anil's accomplice Vigil (32) were arrested in connection with the July 23 attack on Tantri Kandararu Mohanararu in Shobha's flat, 4-C, Link Laxman Apartments.

Police said they are on the lookout for a five-member goonda gang, which was also involved in the attack and Shobha's business partner who had arranged to hire the gang.

These people were absconding along with the money and gold ornaments robbed from the tantri, police said without disclosing their names.

Police said that the three arrested accused had confessed to about their alleged conspiracy to extort money from the Tantri.

The trio said they knew beforehand that the priest was to visit Shobha's flat on July 23. On the previous evening, they met at a hotel here along with Shobha's business partner to hatch the conspiracy.

According to police, Shobha, whose husband is working in the Gulf, was running a beauty parlour called 'Panchkarma Ayurveda Centre' in the posh Panimpally Nagar area here. However, Shobha was allegedly using the beauty parlour as a front to ''supply'' women to clients in Kerala and outside.

She and her accomplices had also allegedly earned lakhs of rupees by blackmailing some of the people to whom she had sent girls, police said.

Shobha had apparently got the Link Laxman Flat also through underhand means and was using it for her nefarious activities.

As she was on very good terms with the security personnel of the apartment complex, whom she used to give money, they were turning a blind eye to the illegal activities in her flat, police said.

She also used to lend money on interest and had several agents for this business.

This is how she knew Shanta from Alappuzha, who was also present in the flat with the 'Tantri' and Shobha on the night of the July 23 attack.

UNI