Narayanan also brought it to the notice of the court that some media houses were spreading false news of the sculptor having absconded. However, the Executive Officer of the temple Murugesan and Mr. Muthiah misused the order and collected crores of rupees and more than 100 kg of gold from the devotees without issuing receipts, the complainant alleged. He also claimed that not even an iota of gold was used for making the two idols. I had not executed the actual casting work and I am not at all involved in the work of making icons/statues. I have no access over the money or the ornaments as alleged by the prosecution,” Mr. Muthiah stated in his affidavit filed in support of the anticipatory bail petition.

Source: The Hindu January 31, 2018 19:30 UTC