Wednesday, July 26 2006 15:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Thiruvananthapuram: Amid the controversy over alleged sexual escapades of a priest of the Sabarimala temple, Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Wednesday said religious leaders should lead clean lives.

"I have come to hear from the police investigating the case of the 'thanthri' (priest) that his conduct, which should have been of the highest order, is not so and therefore he was removed," said Achuthanandan.

"Not all the people dealing in religious matters, who are bound to maintain a clean life, do it," he added.

The Travancore Devasom Board (TDB), custodian of the temple - nestled in the heart of the Western Ghats in Pathanamthitta district, Monday gave marching orders to thanthri Kantaru Mohanaru after it was alleged that he used to frequent the residence of a woman who was previously held in a prostitution case.

On Sunday evening, the thantri registered a complaint with police alleging some people were blackmailing him after forcibly taking him to the residence of the woman and photographing them together.

The priest told a TV channel Wednesday: "They (TDB members) are ganging up against me because I expressed my displeasure against those who run the affairs of the board."

Meanwhile, the police arrested seven youths for their alleged role in "setting a trap" for the thantri.

Mohanaru's counsel K. Ramkumar told reporters in Kochi that the priest was a victim of a conspiracy.

"The entire episode right from the revelation made by astrologer P. Unnikrishna Panicker looks shady. We feel that there are some vested interests in the state and outside who are tainting the Sabarimala temple and only a detailed probe can bring out the truth," said Ramkumar.

Defending the action of removing the thantri, TDB president G. Raman Nair said he did not believe that thantri was trapped.

"He fell into the trap laid by Lord Ayyappa himself and considering the feelings of the millions of devotees, we felt he should be removed and we did it," he said.

The Kerala government has directed Jacob Punnoose, head of the police intelligence wing, to submit a detailed report on the allegation against the thantri.

"The report will reveal all that happened," assured Achuthanandan.

The thanthri controversy follows the Kerala government's order Saturday for a probe by the crime branch of police into Kannada actress Jaimala's claim that she touched the idol of the deity at the temple.

Jaimala has admitted to violating the rules of the Ayyappa temple, barring women who have attained puberty but have not reached menopause, from entering it.