Sabarimala: Arrested tantri complains of uneasiness, shifted to hospital
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Sabarimala tantri (chief priest) Kandararu Rajeevaru, who was arrested in connection with the gold loss case at the hill shrine, was shifted to the government medical college hospital here following uneasiness on Saturday.
He was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at the medical college as doctors found some variation in the heart beat, sources said.
"There are no major health issues. He was admitted as some minor variation was found in the heart beat," a hospital source said.
After being arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday, Rajeevaru was lodged at the special district sub-jail here.
Prison sources said the priest complained about uneasiness in the morning.
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He was first rushed to the state-run general hospital and then shifted to the medical college for further check-up as per the instruction of the doctors.
He was seen walking to the casuality ward of the general hospital amidst heavy police escort.
When reporters repeatedly asked about the charges levelled against him by the SIT in its remand report, Rajeevaru said, "I have nothing to say about it now."
Meanwhile, the SIT personnel carried out a raid at the chief priest's residence at Mundankavu in Chengannur as part of evidence collection.
The tantri was arrested for his alleged close links with prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty and for giving "silent permission" to the replating of the Dwarapalaka and Sreekovil gold plates of the Lord Ayyappa temple, outside the premises, official sources said.
Rajeevaru is from a priestly family, 'Thazhamon Madom' in Chengannur, that guided the rituals of Lord Ayyappa's abode for generations, a lineage revered for its antiquity.
The Thazhamon family's roots run deep and are associated with the legend of Lord Parasurama.
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Karnataka bypolls: Over 60 per cent voter turnout in Bagalkot, Davanagere South till 5 pm
Bengaluru (PTI): Over 60 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm in both Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, where bypolls were held on Thursday.
While the turnout in Bagalkot was 65.68 per cent, it was 63.04 per cent in Davanagere South.
While the ruling Congress faces the challenge of retaining both seats, the BJP aims to wrest them and deliver a setback to its rival, which is currently witnessing an "internal power struggle" over leadership.
The bypolls were necessitated due to the demise of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti (Bagalkot) and Shamanur Shivashankarappa (Davanagere South).
A total of over 2.59 lakh eligible voters are expected to cast their votes at around 319 polling stations in Bagalkot, where nine candidates are in the fray.
In Davanagere South, over 2.31 lakh eligible voters are expected to vote across 284 polling stations, with 25 candidates contesting.
The BJP has fielded former MLA and 2023 defeated candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath from Bagalkot, and a fresh face, Srinivas T Dasakariyappa, from Davanagere South.
The Congress has given tickets to family members of the late legislators in both constituencies. Bagalkot candidate Umesh Meti is the son of H Y Meti, while Samarth Mallikarjun from Davanagere South is the grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
