The police have arrested four men for publicly consuming alcohol and allegedly insulting people within the premises of the Koodalmanikyam Temple during the annual temple festival. The accused have been identified as Pradeesh, 51, Anoop, 38, Lalu Mohan, 40, and Arun, 56 -- all residents of Padiyur village. The incident took place around 11 p.m. on May 6 near the temple’s western entrance.

According to police, the group was seen openly passing around a liquor bottle and drinking in the midst of people, in violation of temple customs. When confronted by a woman, the accused allegedly extended the bottle towards her in a derogatory manner, amounting to an act of outraging her modesty.

Police have registered a case against the accused under sections related to public drinking, intentional provocation aimed at inciting a disturbance, and insulting the dignity of a woman. Visuals of the incident had gone viral on social media, prompting a detailed investigation that led to the identification and arrest of the accused.

Officials also revealed that Anoop had previously been booked in a case under the Mathilakam police station limits for rash and dangerous driving that caused grievous injury to a person.