Hindu Munnani has sharply criticized the Tamil Nadu Police, accusing them of harassing Madurai Adheenam Gnanasambanda Desika Swamigal during an inquiry conducted on 20 July 2025. The organisation’s condemnation comes in light of the Aadheenam’s recent recovery from intestinal surgery. Despite his fragile health, he was reportedly interrogated without the presence of legal counsel or an assistant, which, according to Hindu Munnani, compromised his ability to respond effectively during the investigation.
Posting on its official X account, Hindu Munnani stated, “Tamil Nadu Police harassing Madurai Aadheenam in the name of investigation… Police trespassing by entering the ancient Aadheenam Mutt, expelling everyone? Hindu Munnani strongly condemns the Tamil Nadu Police, who are acting in a way that humiliates Hindu pontiffs and spoils the sanctity of Hindu Aadheenams..!!”
விசாரணை என்ற பெயரில் மதுரை ஆதீனத்தை துன்புறுத்தும் தமிழக காவல்துறை..
பழம்பெருமை வாய்ந்த ஆதீன மடத்திற்குள் காவல்துறை நுழைந்து அனைவரையும் வெளியேற்றி அத்துமீறல்?
இந்து மடாதிபதிகளை இழிவுப்படுத்தும், இந்து ஆதினங்களில் புனிதத்தை கெடுக்கும் வகையில் செயல்படும் தமிழக காவல்துறையை… pic.twitter.com/UIsN1GlkSt
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) July 20, 2025
The statement came after the Cyber Crime Wing of the Greater Chennai Police conducted an inquiry with the Madurai Aadheenam on 20 July 2025, as part of an investigation into his allegations of an attempted assassination.
The controversy stems from an incident on 2 May, when the pontiff claimed that a group deliberately tried to kill him by crashing their vehicle into his car near Ulundurpettai, while he was en route to Chennai. However, after reviewing CCTV footage, police concluded that the accident was not intentional and labelled the claim as false. Subsequently, a case was registered against him under four sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to promoting religious enmity and spreading misinformation. Based on this, the police registered the case and sought to question him, even though the Chennai court had granted him anticipatory bail on the condition that he cooperate with the investigation.
On the day of the inquiry, Cyber Crime officers arrived at the Aadheenam premises in Madurai at 11 a.m. Despite reports of the Aadheenam’s poor health, the police proceeded with the questioning. Supporters, including members of the BJP, staged a protest outside, arguing that the Aadheenam was unfit to be questioned and should not be disturbed.
According to sources, the pontiff was still recovering from intestinal surgery and was lying in bed when the police arrived. He struggled to sit up during the interrogation and requested that an assistant be allowed to help him retrieve documents relevant to his defense. This request was reportedly denied, and the police also refused to permit any legal counsel to be present during the inquiry.
Despite the circumstances, the Aadheenam answered the police’s questions, and the interrogation lasted for nearly an hour before the team departed.
The incident has triggered political and religious backlash, with questions raised about the handling of sensitive religious figures, the conduct of the police, and the broader implications for religious freedom and institutional respect in Tamil Nadu.
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