Woman who contested on BJP ticket held for temple theft

Palakkad: Nemmara Police arrested Prabhavathi alias Prasanna (42), who had contested in the previous local body election as a BJP candidate, for allegedly stealing money from the donation box of Mariamman Temple at Puzhakkalthara in Kanimangalam, Nemmara.

According to the police, the theft took place between the night of May 29 and the evening of May 30. During investigation police found that Prabhavathi allegedly entered the temple through a side gate, broke open the donation box and stole around Rs 10,000. She was later produced in court and remanded in judicial custody, police added.

The theft came to light on Saturday when temple authorities and the priest arrived for routine rituals and found the donation box damaged. A complaint was subsequently lodged with Nemmara Police.

During investigation, police examined CCTV footage collected from the temple premises and nearby areas. It showed a woman breaking open the donation box, following which police identified the accused and took her into custody.

Police said the accused had earlier been involved in a financial fraud case in which imitation jewellery was allegedly pledged at a bank to obtain money.