More revelations in Kollur theft case

The accused in the Kollur Sri Mookambika temple theft case has disclosed that he had pledged gold ornaments worth over Rs 30 lakh from the temple treasury in various co-operative societies and finance companies to avail loans, police said.

Shivaram Madiwala, a staff of the temple was arrested on February 22 in connection with a complaint regarding missing valuables from the temple.

Police sources said several ornaments were found missing from the temple locker when it was opened.

Madiwala was holding the keys of the locker, they said.

The ornaments weighing above 3,000 gm had been received by the temple in the form of donations between 2012 and 2016, police said.

Kollur Sri Mookambika temple is one the highest revenue earning temples in Karnataka.

Gold ornaments which were found hidden in some other places in the temple were also recovered by the police.

Meanwhile, Madiwala alleged that many others were also involved in the case and their names would be revealed in time, police said.