Police suspects conspiracy in Sabarimala episode

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 26 (UNI) A police inquiry has hinted a conspiracy involving Kannada actress Jayamala and renowned astrologer Unnikrishna Panicker to defame the Sabarimala hill shrine and its authorities.

According to sources, the inquiry report, which is yet to be submitted to the state government, has found that there were strong reasons to suspect that a conspiracy was framed to defame the temple authorities and the priest.

The controversy arose after Jayamala's claim that she had entered the Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala discarding the ban on women of 10-50 age group. Jayamala came out with the claim that she visited the shrine 20 years ago soon after the 'devaprasnam' (astrological examination of temple affairs) conducted by Mr Panicker found gross improprieties in the conduct of the temple rituals.

The sources said special inquiry team headed by Crime Branch SP Ramachandran found that Jayamala and astrologer Unnikrishna Panicker were known to each other for the last several years.

It may be recalled that Panicker had even said during the 'devaprasnam' that the sanctity of the temple had been defiled in view of the presence of a women in gross violation of the shrine's traditions.

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