A priest was arrested for allegedly stealing valuables from a house in J.J. Nagar in Mogappair East, where he performed daily pujas.
According to the police, the complainant, Aniruddha Knight, 46, a Bharatanatyam artiste, had installed idols in a prayer room at his residence, where he performs religious rituals and also teaches Bharatanatyam to students. Priyadarshan, 35, a resident of Villivakkam, visited the house every morning and evening to conduct pujas. On the night of July 1, he performed the customary rituals and left the premises.
The following morning, when Aniruddha entered the prayer room on the first floor, he noticed that a gold ornament adorning a serpent idol was missing. On inspecting a locker in which other valuables were kept, he found it open and several items stolen.
The missing valuables included a Perumal kavacham; gold coins, chains, a sacred thread and other gold ornaments weighing about 34 sovereigns; and silver puja articles weighing 4.374 kg. The silver items included plates, a rose-water sprinkler, a silver necklace, a silver serpent idol, silver bars, a kasumalai, and bangles.
Based on a complaint lodged by Aniruddha with the J.J. Nagar Police Station Crime Wing, the police arrested Priyadarshan.
The police said Priyadarshan had been performing pujas at the house since January this year, during which time he stole the gold jewellery and silver articles in small quantities.
Published – July 05, 2026 12:27 am IST
