Mysuru: Three employees of Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hill have been suspended in connection with the Temple entry ticket scam running into lakhs of rupees.

The Temple Parupattedar M.D. Raju and staff Anand and Prakash are the ones who have been suspended. The Temple Parupattedar M.D. Raju, who is said to be the kingpin of the scam, was an employee of Varaha Temple inside the Palace and was sent on deputation to the Hill Temple about seven years ago.

The scam came to light when the Temple EO K.M. Prasad checked the ticket-issuing computer and it was prima facie discovered that Rs.6,79,000 has been embezzled by the trio by manipulation of software in a four month period between April and August this year.

According to the Chamundeshwari Temple EO, the fraud has taken place in the issuance of Rs.30 and Rs.50 special entry tickets. M.D.Raju, Anand and Prakash have been suspended and the fraud has been reported to the Deputy Commissioner.

The Temple authorities are awaiting nod from the DC for initiating criminal action against the uspended trio, he said.

Pointing out that the Temple has written a letter to National Informatic Centre  (NIC) at Bengaluru for a complete technical check of the computer used for issuing special entry tickets, Prasad suspected that the fraud may even cross Rs.1 crore and the exact nature of the scam can be known only after the NIC submits a report, he said adding that the Temple would initiate criminal action against the three accused.

Following the unearthing of the  scam, the devotees and Chamundi Hill residents have demanded initiation of criminal proceedings against all those involved in the scam and that the guilty be punished.