Shocking allegations of large-scale cash-for-jobs corruption have emerged in the recruitment process for vacant posts at the Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, with fingers being pointed at functionaries linked to the ruling DMK establishment.
The controversy comes even as interviews are being conducted for 109 vacancies at the historic temple, for which as many as 10,500 candidates have applied. The posts, including 70 security guard positions, carry modest monthly salaries ranging between ₹13,000 and ₹25,000, making the scale of the alleged bribery demands particularly explosive.
According to reports, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department had approved the creation of the new posts to manage surging devotee crowds, especially the growing influx of pilgrims from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Applications were invited in February 2025, and interviews have been underway since 2 February 2026.
However, serious allegations have now surfaced that the recruitment process has been compromised by political interference and recommendation-based irregularities.
It is alleged that, with elections approaching, the district in-charge minister, EV Velu, divided the available posts among ruling party and alliance functionaries in a bid to politically “take care” of them. Each functionary was reportedly given a quota of jobs to recommend candidates.
The names recommended through this political channel are said to be compiled into a final list and routed back through the minister’s office, after which appointment orders are expected to be issued.
More damaging are the bribery allegations linked to these recommendations. Functionaries who secured job allocations are accused of collecting between ₹8 lakh and ₹12 lakh per post. In several cases, it is alleged that money has been collected from three to four aspirants for the same single post, multiplying the scale of the alleged scam.
The controversy does not end there. Party administrators who did not receive any quota allocation are also reportedly exploiting the recruitment drive by independently collecting money from job seekers, promising appointments through “influence.”
The minister is said to have been taken aback upon learning the extent of the collections.
At the administrative level, another layer of political calculation has reportedly set in. With 10,500 applicants competing for just 109 posts, there are concerns within the ruling establishment that unsuccessful candidates, particularly those who paid money, could turn hostile ahead of elections.
To manage the fallout, it is learnt that a decision has been taken to conduct only the interview process for now and defer the issuance of appointment orders until after the elections.
However, this delay has triggered fresh pressure from ruling party functionaries. Those who have already collected money are said to be demanding immediate job orders, fearing backlash if there is any change in government before appointments are formalised.
Amid this growing internal chaos, discussions are reportedly underway to stall the entire recruitment exercise through legal means. One proposal under consideration is to facilitate the filing of a public interest litigation (PIL) in court, citing the election period, and to obtain a stay order on the appointments, effectively buying time.
Caught in the middle of this alleged recruitment scam are thousands of genuine applicants, party intermediaries, and job aspirants who have allegedly paid large sums and are now left in uncertainty.
Source: Dinamalar
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