Thrissur: The Kerala Lokayukta on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant against Thrissur District Collector Dr. A. Kaushikan for not taking action against the smuggling of clay sand worth Rs 3.5 crore from a paddy field in Ambaloor Alikkal Kannamkutty temple in the in Thrissur.

The Lokayukta division bench issued the warrant as the Collector did not appear before the bench even after receiving a notice asking him to appear in person. The division bench directed the City Police Commissioner to arrest Dr. Kaushikan. It also ordered the Puthikad police to arrest the temple administration committee president Sunil Kumar.

According to petitioner P.N. Mukundan, a social worker, clay sand was smuggled under the guise of digging up of a pond from the land that was once a paddy field. The Collector did not take action even after receiving the complaint, he alleged.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kaushikan said that he did not receive the Lokayukta notice to appear before the division bench. He said he would move the court to get the arrest warrant stayed.