CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered handing over of Devanathan (35), a priest in Machchewarar Temple in Kanchipuram, to the Siva Kanchi police for further interrogation.
Devanathan was allegedly involved in a sex scandal in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple itself.
Devanathan, who was absconding, surrendered before the Judicial Magistrate-I in Kanchipuram on November 16, 2009 and he was remanded to judicial custody.
The Siva Kanchi police on November 18 prayed for his custody for seven days. But the magistrate granted just two days. The police again approached the magistrate seeking Devanathan’s police custody. However, the magistrate rejected the plea.
Hence, the present application before the Madras High Court demanding five days police custody.
Setting aside the magistrate’s rejection order and granting relief, Justice CT Selvam said that Devanathan be taken in police custody by 5 pm on Friday. He should be sent back to the prison by 5 p m on November 30, the judge added.