KOCHI: Cochin Devaswom board has suspended the priest in Chottanikara Bhagavati Temple on the complaint that he sought ‘dakshina’ online. The former ‘melshanti’ of Keezhkavu temple and the present ‘melshanti’ of Shasta temple M K Sateeshan Namboohtiri has got suspended on the complaint. Action has been taken against him after a QR code scanning card bearing his name and signature was found from the Pushpanjali prasadam distribution counter of priests in Keezhkavu temple. The card was found in a joint search operation launched by asst commissioner R Biju and the vigilance department. The suspension order was issued by the special devaswom commissioner on Monday.

Satheesh Namboothiri was the ‘Melshanti,’ until the Chottanikara makam festival held on last February. The suspension order has imposed serious charges of dereliction of duty for crediting money from the devotees directly to the bank account without issuing receipts. Replacing Sateeshan the Shantikaran of Kadavallur temple M K Narayanan has been appointed to Chottanikara. Asst Commissioner of Bhandaram supervision M G Jagadeesh has been given the charge of conducting a comprehensive probe.

Satheesh Namboothiri is also the treasurer of Cochin Devaswom Board Santhi Sangh, a pro-BMS service organisation. It is also alleged that the political rivalry of other staff on the board could be a reason for the case. As per the norms of devaswom board, except dakshina, the temple priests are not entitled to collect any financial contributions from the devotees.

No irregularity happened

Meanwhile, Satheesh Namboothiri has said that he was appointed in Chottanikara when the pandemic was at its peak and the QR code was made by his friend for his own safety. He also added that he had not undertaken any transaction via the QR code.