According to the East Godavari district superintendent of police, the idol was placed within the premises of the temple but not inside the sanctum sanctorum.
Police arrested M. Venkata Chalapathi (43), K. Srinivasulu (34), K. Hari (34), B. Sridhar (27), G. Venkatesh (24), P. Dasaradaiah (40), G. Narasimhulu (60), K. Ranga Babu (40), D. Prakash (34) and B. Munendra (29).
