Action initiated against five temple staff for demanding money from devotees in Tiruchendur

Following a surprise inspection by Hindu Religious and Charity Minister (HR&CE) S. Ramesh at the Subramanya Swami Temple in Tiruchendur on Friday, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against five persons in connection with allegations of irregularities in collection of money from devotees. During the minister’s inspection of the temple, various irregularities in darshan arrangements and other processes were detected.

According to temple officials, the Minister entered the temple premises along with his assistant wearing a face mask. His assistant casually asked the priest about darshan. The priest allegedly demanded a certain amount of money and then the Minister’s aide transferred the money through an online transaction.

Addressing the media later, Mr. Ramesh said that the surprise inspection was carried out following numerous complaints about irregularities in the temple.

The minister said he visited the temple in the early hours wearing a mask and directly witnessed money being collected from devotees and later taken inside for darshan. Noting that both priests and officials were jointly involved in the practice, he said action would be taken against them without any partiality.

explanatory letter

Responding to the allegation that a letter of apology was received from the person involved in the irregularities, he clarified that only an explanatory letter was received, which was submitted as part of the procedure.

When asked whether the priest requested cash for darshan, he said that the investigation was continuing and detailed information would be given after the investigation was completed.

In connection with the above investigation, Temple Joint Commissioner K. Ramu issued orders banning a temple priest, G. Ayappan, from discharging kainkaryam duties after he was found to be involved in irregular collection of money from devotees for darshan.

Similarly, security personnel K. Karuppasamy and A. Thoppu, who were on duty at the entrance of Shanmuga Vilasa Madapam, were also suspended after they were found to have taken money from the priest to allow devotees to enter for darshan irregularly. Both the personnel were ex-servicemen recruited through the Tamil Nadu Ex-Servicemen’s Corporation Limited in Tirunelveli.

Mr. Ramu also issued a restraining order against two headache workers, P. Sankar and V. Nagaraj, for accepting bribes from devotees of the headache parlour.