There is more political support for TVS Motor Co Chairman Venu Srinivasan against whom a FIR has been lodged in a case of idol theft, with Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan and CPI leader R. Mutharasan backing him.

Union Minister of State Radhakrishnan said the general public perception was that Srinivasan had spent his own money for the betterment of temples and for the livelihood of the poor.

Radhakrishan said many devotees were wondering whether charging a person like Srinivasan was meant to divert the investigation or help the real culprits.

Mutharasan said it was astonishing that Srinivasan, the head of TVS Motor, was being charged in an temple idol theft case.

He sought a probe to know on whose instance Srinivasan's name had been included in the FIR.

Earlier, MDMK founder Vaiko had demanded dropping of Srinivasan's name from the FIR.

Meanwhile, a police team investigating the theft of idol on August 10 told the Madras High Court that Srinivasan won't be arrested for six weeks till the court hears the industrialist's anticipatory bail application.

In his bail application, Srinivasan referred to a writ petition filed by one Elephant G. Rajendran. Srinivasan said that in paragraph 12 of an affidavit submitted in support of his petition, Rajendran mentioned that an FIR had been filed against him.

Srinivasan said he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the famed Srirangam Temple and that he had spent Rs 25 crore from his own pocket for the renovation of the entire holy complex.

He said Rs 70 lakh was also spent by him on painting works at Sri Kabaleeswarar temple in the heart of Chennai.

The industrialist also said that a private trust funded by him and his company had undertaken renovation of over 100 temples in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.