With the burning of a chariot in the famous temple of Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at Antarvedi in East Godavari district snowballing into a major religious controversy, CM Jagan Mohan Reddy decided to order a CBI inquiry into the incident.
The six-decades old chariot made of teakwood on the premises of Antarvedi, which was being used during the procession of the Lord, was completely burnt to ashes in the early hours of Sunday, triggering wild protests from Hindu groups, seers and political parties, particularly, the TDP, BJP and Jana Sena.
As the protests are likely to take a serious turn, Jagan quickly reacted and ordered a CBI probe into the incident.
“Some political parties have demanded for a CBI probe, the chief minister in order to manifest transparency has instructed the DGP to hand over the case to the premier investigation agency,” a CMO note said.
The DGP office, in turn, wrote a letter to this effect to Union Home Ministry seeking CBI probe into the Antarvedi incident. A GO to this effect will be issued.
The CMO note said Jagan has taken the matter of arson at the temple seriously and when the State police have been trying their best, there was criticism from political and other groups casting aspersions on the State government in mainline and social media spreading falsehood.
“The State would spare no one and would take stringent action against those, irrespective of their position, was the government stand,” the note said.