More details emerge in Kollur shrine jewellery theft case

Mangalore Today News Network

Kundapur, Feb 24, 2016 : The arrest of Shivaram Madivala, a staff of the Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple in connection with the case of missing valuables from the temple, has led to more revelations. Shivaram  has reportedly revealed during interrogations that he had pledged gold ornaments worth over Rs 30 lakh from the temple treasury in various co-operative societies and finance companies  to avail loans.

The temple locker was opened on February 23, Tuesday with the help of the keys  which  Madivala had with him, in the presence of  SI Shekhar , Temple  Executive  Officer TR  Uma,  priests  KN Narasimha Adiga, Ramakrishna Adiga and Manjunath Adiga.

It has been gathered that of the 48 different ornaments which were placed in the locker since July 2012 only 11 were found in the lockers making it clear that the rest were pledged by Madivala. He  however had not touched the silver ornaments in the treasury. The 48 ornaments weighing 3069.390 grams  were received by the temple in the form of donations between 2012 and 2016. It may be recalled here that this temple is the second highest revenue earning temple of the state.

Some gold ornaments which were  found  hidden in some other place in the temple, were also recovered by the police.

Meanwhile, Madivala who managed to speak to the  Press  alleged that many others too were involved in the  scam, He also said he would reveal their names at the  right time.