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HR&CE Minister S. Ramesh during a surprise visit to Tiruchendur Subramanya Swami temple | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Following a surprise inspection conducted by Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) S. Ramesh at the Subramanya Swami Temple in Tiruchendur on Friday, disciplinary action has been initiated against five persons in connection with alleged irregularities involving the collection of money from devotees. During the Minister’s inspection at the temple, several irregularities in darshan arrangements and other processes were identified.

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

Later, addressing the media, Mr. Ramesh said the surprise inspection was conducted based on multiple complaints regarding irregularities at the temple.

The Minister said he had visited the temple in the early hours wearing a mask and said he had directly found instances of money being collected from devotees, who were then 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.

Responding to the claim that an apology letter had been received from the individual involved in the irregularities, he clarified that only an explanatory letter, submitted as part of the procedure, had been received.

Responding to a question on whether the priest had demanded cash from him for darshan, he said the inspection was still under way, and detailed information would be provided after it was completed.

In connection with the above inspection, Temple Joint Commissioner K. Ramu issued orders barring a temple priest G. Ayappan from performing kainkaryam duties after it was found that he had been involved in irregular collection of money from devotees for darshan.

Similarly, security personnel K. Karuppasamy and A. Thoppu posted at the entrance of Shanmuga Vilasa Madapam were also removed from duty after it was found that they had received money from the priest to irregularly permit devotees inside for darshan. Both staff were ex-servicemen, recruited through Tamil Nadu Ex-Servicemen’s Corporation Limited in Tirunelveli.

Mr. Ramu also issued suspension orders to two tonsure workers, P. Sankar and V. Nagaraj, for receiving bribes from devotees at the tonsure hall.

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