Sabarimala: A police officer was relieved of duty on Saturday evening after he was found wearing sandals at the Sopanam, a sacred area of the Sabarimala temple, on the day it opened for the Chingam month Puja.

Civil Police Officer Rajesh of the Thiruvananthapuram SP camp, was sent back to his unit following the incident, which occurred around 8.45 pm.

The matter came to light when a devotee noticed Rajesh standing near the Sopanam in white sandals and photographed him on a mobile phone. The officer later explained that he had run to the Sannidhanam during rainfall and forgot to remove his footwear.

Police officials said that while the act was unintentional, it was treated as a serious disciplinary issue. Sabarimala Police Chief Coordinator ADGP S Sreejith has ordered an inquiry into the incident. Authorities said Rajesh had entered the temple premises through the northern route.