KHAMMAM: With the temple priests of Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple at Bhadrachalam not able to find the missing gold ornaments of the processional deities of the temple, temple executive officer T Ramesh Babu on Monday lodged a complaint with the Bhadrachalam Town police about the missing gold ornaments. The ornaments include a ‘Talibottu’ of Goddess Sita. The temple main priest noticed two gold chains missing on Friday when he was adorning the ornaments of processional deities and informed the same to the EO on Sunday.
Ramesh Babu convened a meeting with the priest and gave one day’s time for verifying the missing gold chains in the locker where the ornaments are secured after the daily rituals. On Monday, the main priest gave his report to the EO that the two chains could not be found and they are missing.
Based on the main priest’s report, the temple EO lodged a complaint against priests and staff. He asked the police to take up enquiry and recover the chains each one contains 21 grams and 70 grams worth of `2.13 lakhs. Police registered a case under section 409 IPC and started enquiry.
Meanwhile, special protection force commandant P Madhava Rao visited temple and enquired about the missing gold chains with his staff. The SPF is looking after the temple security. It is learnt the SPF commandant will submit a report to the government.
Speaking to Express, Ramesh Babu said they handed over the gold ornaments to the main priest and he is responsibe to hand it back. He added that the temple is taking steps based on the instructions of endowment minister A Indrakaran Reddy.