KANCHEEPURAM: The priest of Machcheshwara Peruman temple, Devanathan, who had been on the run for about two months, surrendered before the Judicial Magistrate-I, Kancheepuram, on Monday and was remanded in judicial custody till November 30.
The Siva Kanchi police got the whiff of his impersonation after his sexual escapades with a few women on the temple premises that were recorded by himself on his mobile phone, became public. A case was registered against him but he fled Kancheepuram along with his wife Ganga and two teenage daughters.
Inspector Pattabhiraman of the Kanchi police told Express on Monday that they would file a petition before the magistrate on Tuesday, seeking custody of the accused for further inquiry.
Meanwhile, the Madras High Court rejected an anticipatory bail application by Devanathan on Friday.
The police have also taken into custody Devanathan’s wife Ganga. They are questioning seven of Devanathan’s relatives at Pazhaiya Seewaram village, 20 km from Kancheepuram.
Devanathan’s lawyer S Desai said his client had been “falsely implicated” and that the police had not submitted any evidence in the court. The assistant public prosecutor at the Judicial Magistrate I said that the accused had been initially declared absconding.