Tantri lauds arrests

Kochi, Aug 2 (UNI) Expressing satisfaction at the arrest of three people in connection with the attack on him here on July 23, sacked Sabarimala tantri Kandararu Mohanararu today said once the probe is over, his innocence will be fully established.

Talking to newspersons this evening after police arrested key accused Shobha John, who is allegedly running a sex racket in the city, and her two accomplices Anil Kumar and Vigil, the priest said ''Lord Ayyappa is with me. I will be fully absolved of all allegations made against me.'' The tantri had been sacked by the Travancore Devaswom Board on July 24 after reports about his alleged involvement in a sex racket had surfaced.

The priest's lawyer Ram Kumar said the case was moving in the right direction.

He said the police should bring to book all those, who had conspired to defame the tantri, one of the main priests at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.

Today's arrests showed that the complaint lodged by the tantri was not false, he added.

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