Udupi: Karkala Town police have arrested a former data entry operator of the Pervaje Shri Mahalingeshwara Temple, alleging that he forged the signature on cheque leaves in an attempt to fraudulently withdraw money from the temple’s bank account.The accused, Akshay Devadiga,29, a resident Ennehole, Marne village, had worked as a data entry operator at the temple, which comes under the Hindu religious & charitable endowments department from Dec 1, 2022, to May 7, 2026.According to police, irregularities and lapses in his duties came to light during a departmental audit. When asked to explain the discrepancies, Akshay allegedly failed to provide any clarification. He submitted his resignation on May 7, and did not report for duty thereafter.Police said the accused allegedly retained six blank cheque leaves belonging to the temple’s current account maintained at a bank. On June 24, he reportedly presented the cheques for encashment at the bank, after allegedly forging the signature without the temple committee president’s knowledge. Bank officials grew suspicious and questioned him about the cheques. As he allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, the bank refused to honour them, preventing the fraudulent withdrawal.Based on a complaint, Karkala Town Police lodged a case under Sections 316(2), 318(4) and 340(2) of the BNS. The accused has been arrested and produced before the jurisdictional court.
