"Whoever committed wrongdoing will face appropriate action": TN Minister Ramesh on irregularities in Tiruchendur Subramaniya Swamy Temple
Thoothukudi, May 29
Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister Ramesh on Friday said appropriate action would be taken against those found responsible for irregularities at the Tiruchendur Subramaniya Swamy Temple, where he conducted a surprise inspection following allegations of bribery involving temple priests.
Minister Ramesh has been carrying out inspections at the temple in the Thoothukudi district since 6 am.
According to allegations, some priests, allegedly unaware of the identities of the minister and his assistant, demanded and received Rs 4,000 as a bribe to facilitate darshan of Lord Murugan at the temple.
Following the alleged incident, the minister continued inspections in various parts of the temple.
Speaking to reporters in Thoothukudi, the minister said only explanation letters had been sought from temple officials found to have committed mistakes and not apology letters.
"Only explanation letters have been obtained from those who committed mistakes among the temple officials. No apology letters have been sought. Whoever is found to have committed wrongdoing at the Tiruchendur Subramaniya Swamy Temple will face appropriate action," Ramesh said.
The minister further said inspections are yet to be conducted in various parts of the temple and full details of the findings would be shared after completion of the exercise.
"Further inspections are yet to be conducted in various parts of the temple. After the completion of the inspection, full details of today's incidents and findings will be provided to you," he said.
Earlier, reaffirming the government's commitment to secularism and social justice, Minister Ramesh on Saturday asserted new administration functions beyond the lines of caste and religion, adding that public support is rooted entirely in the leadership of Chief Minister Vijay.
The Minister made these remarks after paying floral tributes to the statue of Emperor Perumpidugu Mutharaiyar on his 1351st Sathaya Festival at Othakadai in Trichy.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is the problem with our temples.. devotees already pay so much in offerings and now even priests are extorting money. Tiruchendur is a sacred place for Murugan devotees like me. Minister should also check the prasadam quality and queue management system. At least someone is looking into it finally.
While I appreciate the minister's crackdown, the real issue is the HR&CE department itself which has been mismanaging temple funds for decades. Asking for 'explanation letters' is too soft. These priests should be suspended immediately and an FIR should be filed. Our temples are not their personal ATM machines.
As a foreigner who visited Tiruchendur last year, I was surprised by how organized the temple administration was. But hearing about bribes for darshan is disappointing. Indian temples have such rich history and spirituality - this corruption dilutes that experience. Hope the minister's investigation is thorough and transparent. 👍
Classic case of 'power corrupts' even in religious places. But let's be honest - this is just the tip of the iceberg. Every big temple in Tamil Nadu has similar stories. The government needs to depoliticize temple management and involve more devotees in oversight. Just my two paise as a regular visitor to Palani and Tiruchendur. 😊
I understand the anger, but let's not forget that many temple priests are underpaid and work hard. The system itself is broken. Instead of just punishing individuals, the government should reform the HR&CE department, increase staff salaries, and digitize donation tracking. Only then will such incidents stop permanently.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.