A senior official of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has been arrested by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹1.5 lakh to process the takeover of a private temple in Coimbatore district.
According to officials, Assistant Commissioner Indira was caught red-handed by DVAC personnel while receiving the bribe amount on Bharathiyar Road, near the HR&CE office. The operation was based on a complaint filed by Suresh Kumar; an administrator of a privately managed temple located in Pappampatti village near Sulur.
The temple, which reportedly earns an annual revenue of ₹40 lakh, had been the subject of complaints over alleged financial mismanagement. Suresh Kumar had petitioned the HR&CE Department to bring the temple under government control, citing lack of accountability in its administration. Following this, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had ordered the department to take appropriate action within 12 weeks.
During the preliminary departmental follow-up, Assistant Commissioner Indira allegedly demanded ₹3 lakh from the petitioner to initiate the process of transferring the temple’s management under HR&CE control. When the petitioner expressed his inability to pay the full amount, she reportedly agreed to settle for ₹1.5 lakh.
Acting on the complaint, DVAC officials set up a trap and apprehended Indira while she was accepting the bribe. The entire incident was also reportedly captured on CCTV footage.
The accused officer is currently being interrogated at the DVAC office, and a case has been registered against her. The arrest of a high-ranking HR&CE official in such circumstances has sparked widespread concern among department staff and the public alike.
(With inputs from One India Tamil)
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