In a recent legal victory for temple activist T.R. Ramesh, the Madras High Court has quashed a criminal case filed against him by the administrators of the Kapaleeswarar Temple in Chennai. The case, which Ramesh described as false, was initiated following allegations that he had instigated devotees at the temple on 31 August 2022.
Ramesh, however, has consistently denied the accusations, asserting that he was in Bangalore attending a family wedding at the time of the alleged incident, making it impossible for him to have been involved. The case was reportedly filed at the behest of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, which oversees temple administration in Tamil Nadu.
Hon'ble Madras High Court quashed the FALSE Criminal Case filed against me by the illegal administrators of Sri Kapaliswarar Temple in Aug 2022 at the instigation of @tnhrcedept
The misfits directed by @tnhrcedept and the TN Police foisted a totally False case stating I… pic.twitter.com/OfUaXFhs3b
— trramesh (@trramesh) August 9, 2024
Following the filing of the case, Ramesh secured anticipatory bail in September 2022. His legal team, led by Senior Counsel Satish Parasaran, then filed a quash petition to have the charges dismissed.
The Kapaleeswarar Temple had previously been in the news when Ramesh raised questions about a proposed construction of a cultural center using temple funds, which he argued was against the rules. In May 2024, the Madras High Court put the construction on hold pending further hearings.
In June 2024, Ramesh has addressed correspondence to key officials of the Tamil Nadu government concerning Sri Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore. The temple, an ancient agamic structure for the Saiva Sampradaya and the Poonamalee Uyar Thuluva Vellalars sect, was relocated to its current site in the 16th century after the original temple was destroyed by Portuguese forces and replaced with San Thome church.
The activist raised concerns over the unlawful lease of temple land to the Women’s Indian Association in 2012, comprising 10 grounds at a nominal rent of ₹3000 per month for 29 years and 11 months. Despite objections by the Temple Worshippers Society, the lease was approved by the government via G.O. Ms. 77 dated 24 February 2011, which has not been rescinded to date. This lease has resulted in significant financial losses to the temple annually.
(With inputs from Swarajyamag)
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