Simhachalam chief priest suspended

VISAKHAPATNAM: The chief

priest

of

Simhachalam

Godavarthi Gopala Krishnamacharyulu was suspended following allegations of flouting lockdown rules. The suspension order was delivered on Tuesday by the

temple

authorities to the chief priest after allegations surfaced that he had allowed an outsider into the temple premises during the Ekanthaseva-Puja period.

Talking to TOI, the temple authorities stated that a full-fledged enquiry would be conducted into the matter, after which further action would be taken. The temple executive officer M

Venkateswara Rao

said, “ We are conducting an enquiry into the matter and further decision will be taken. The suspension orders were given only after the initial enquiry.”

According to the temple authorities, the chief priest, allowed an outsider by name Tirupathi Sriniu into the temple. Sources added that the chief priest was accused of allowing the person into the temple premises. However, the chief priest in his defence stated, “I’m being made a scapegoat. I request the district collector to conduct a full enquiry into the matter and see if anybody had been allowed into the temple at my behest.”

Regarding the identity of the man, who had entered the temple, sources claimed that he was a resident of the hill top village near the temple and had been allowed access to the main Gopuram. Sources added that this man was a daily visitor.

Sources in the priestly community at Simhachalam believe that the management was singling out the authorities. However, it made clear that a free and fair enquiry would be conducted, only after which the fate of the chief priest would be decided. They made it clear that any flouting of rules by priests or employees would not be tolerated. The temple authorities clearly stated that there was no bias being shown either against or in favour of somebody.