Two priests arrested for wearing tiger claw pendant in K'taka

Bengaluru, Oct 26 (IANS) Two priests have been arrested on the charges of wearing tiger claw pendant in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka, police said on Thursday. 

The arrested priests have been identified as Krishnananda Holla and Nagendra Jois, both attached to Markandeshwara temple in Khandya.

The forest department sleuths arrested them and seized three tiger claw pendants from them. Two others are being questioned.

Balehonnur Range Forest officers said the tiger claws would be sent for testing to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).

The court is likely to take up the bail petition of Varthur Santhosh, who was arrested from the Kannada Big Boss Reality show set on October 22 for wearing tiger claw pendant.

Santhosh's arrest was questioned by people, who shared pictures of other celebrities using tiger claw pendants, and alleged no such action is taken against celebrities and politicians.

Religious seer Vinay Guruji has also come under scanner as he was seen sitting on the tiger's skin.

The forest department sleuths on Wednesday conducted inspections and searches at the residences of celebrities in question.

Kannada superstar Darshan, actor and politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy and film producer Rockline Venkatesh are likely to submit their written replies to the forest department authorities in the matter.

Film actor and BJP Rajya Sabha member Jaggesh is likely to be present before the authorities in connection with the case on Thursday.

Jaggesh had revealed on live interview that his mother had gifted him tiger claw pendant and it is indeed an original one.

--IANS

mka/svn