Move to defame priest

MYSORE/CHAMARAJANAGAR: The district authorities on Tuesday declared the 'padukes' (golden sandals) of Biligiriranga Swamy were original and were exchanged for bronze ones.
A source claimed that it was done to defame the temple chief priest for stopping people from taking advantage of the jathre for a commercial purpose.
Shivanagaiah, tahsildar, Yelandu r says as many as 82 valuables were taken out from the treasury for the Dodda jathre festival at Biligiranga Swamy temple in Yelandur on May 3 and were handed over to two priests.About 16 valuables, including the padukes, were handed over to chief priest Ravikumar and other 66 valuables to Almelamma temple priest Sheshadri on the eve of the festival. It was done in the presence of temple AC, tahsildar, executive officer, devotees, priests and police officers.