PATHANAMTHITTA: The forest officials arrested Kumily native Chandrashakaran(33) who played mediator and assisted the tantric in conducting illegal ritual in Ponnambalamedu. The Forest officials later handed Chandrashekaran to the police. After detailed questioning, he was brought to court and later got remanded until June 3.

It was Chandrashekaran who introduced Tantric Narayanan Nambothiri to the Tamil Nadu natives of the hills and also to the forest officials. He has also admitted to receiving Rs 3000 along with forest officials to allow entry to Narayanan Namboothiri to do rituals in the sacred hills. Range officer G Ajikumar revealed about surveilling the house of Chandrashekaran for three days before moving with the arrest. The main accused Narayanan Namboothiri is still on the run. The police are extending search to Tamil Nadu while Namboothiri's phone remains in switched-off mode. The total number of arrests in the issue has reached three. Kerala forest ACT and wildlife conservation rules are charged against them.