Temple jewels of Ezhupunna Sree Narayanapuram Mahavishnu temple missing; theft suspect Keezh Santhi absconding

AROOR: 20 pieces of Thiruvabharanam (temple jewels) were stolen from the Ezhupunna Sree Narayanapuram Mahavishnu temple. The Thiruvabharanam, which included a large haram of 10 sovereigns, a charthumaala of 3.5 sovereigns, a small crown of 3.3 sovereigns, a necklace of 2.4 sovereigns, and a chain of 1.5 sovereigns, which were installed on the idol on Vishu day, are missing.

The police have intensified the search for the Keezh Santhi, who went missing under suspicious circumstances. After Melshanthi Sankaranaraya Rao went on leave, his relative and Kollam native OT Ramachandran was in charge instead. He is the one who has gone into hiding. He had arrived four months ago as Keezh Santhi. The ornaments kept in the locker were bought by Ramachandran the previous evening and offered on the idol. After the Ucha Pooja, at around 2, he left on his bike without returning the rest of the ornaments except for one charthumaala.

After the Deeparadhana in the evening, Santhi, who was present at that time, handed over only the charthumaala worth 3.5 pavan to the officials. The theft was discovered when the rest of the ornaments was searched. The missing Keezh Santhi was searched for in the temple premises and in the rented house in Chellanam where Melshanthi's parents live, but could not be found. His phone was switched off. A complaint was then filed with the police late at night. Devaswom Secretary Mohana Krishnan said that after suspicions arose regarding the returned charthumaala, it was checked at the gold shop and was found to be counterfeit.

The police questioned Melshanthi, who appeared at the station around noon. The police went to the Kollam house in search of O.T. Ramachandran but could not find him. They are searching for him through CCTV visuals