Ex-HR and CE commissioner appears in court in idol case

Former HR & CE commissioner P Dhanapal, an accused in the Palani temple idol casting scam, today surrendered before a court here as directed by the Madras High Court while granting him anticipatory bail.

The Judicial Magistrate II granted him bail and ordered him to stay here for 60 days, one of the conditions laid down by the Madurai Bench of the high court.

Dhanapal also surrendered his passport and was directed not to use the internet or phone.

He will be under the surveillance of the idol wing police, which is investigating into the scam, the magistrate said.

Dhanapal has been arraigned as an accused in the case filed by the Idol wing of police for alleged misappropriation of gold collected by way of donation for making the processional idol of the famous Lord Dhandayuthapaniswamy temple at Palani in 2004.

Police have so far arrested four persons, including two officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, which administers a large number of temples in Tamil Nadu, and a sculptor, in connection with the case.