The Madras High Court has quashed a case registered against YouTuber Karthik Gopinath over allegations of irregularities in collecting funds online for the renovation of the Sri Madurakali Amman Temple at Siruvachur in Perambalur district, as reported in Hindu Tamil.
The court also directed the authorities to release Gopinath’s frozen bank accounts and ordered that the funds currently under the control of the court be handed over to the temple administration along with the interest accrued on the amount.
The Sri Madurakali Amman Temple, located in Siruvachur in Perambalur district, is a prominent temple in the region. Gopinath had launched an online fundraising campaign to collect donations for renovation and related works at the temple.
However, allegations were subsequently raised that the funds collected in the name of the temple renovation had not been used for the stated purpose and had instead been diverted for other purposes.
Based on a complaint lodged by the temple’s Executive Officer, the Avadi Police Commissionerate registered a case against Gopinath in 2022 under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act.
Gopinath subsequently approached the Madras High Court seeking quashing of the case. The petition came up for final hearing before Justice T. Bharatha Chakravarthy.
Gopinath Denies Misuse Of Temple Funds
Appearing for Gopinath, advocate Abhinav Parthasarathy argued that his client had no intention of misappropriating or misusing funds collected for the temple.
The principal allegation against Gopinath, the counsel submitted, was that he had collected funds without obtaining prior permission from the authorities. There was no evidence, he argued, to establish that the money collected had been misappropriated or used improperly.
Police Cite ₹33.28 Lakh Collection
Opposing the petition, advocate R. Rajasekaran, appearing for the police, submitted that ₹33,28,924 had been collected through the Milaap crowdfunding platform in the name of the temple renovation.
The police further alleged that approximately ₹1.80 lakh from the collected amount had been transferred to another account.
However, the temple administration took a different position before the High Court.
Temple Says Funds Were Not Misappropriated
Appearing for the Sri Madurakali Amman Temple, advocate S. Surya told the court that none of the money collected by Gopinath had been misappropriated and that the temple funds had not been improperly spent.
The temple’s stand was significant to the court’s consideration of the case.
High Court Quashes Criminal Case
After hearing the arguments from all sides, Justice T. Bharatha Chakravarthy observed that it had been established that the funds collected had not been misappropriated.
The court also noted that the amount collected through Milaap had been deposited before the Thiruvottriyur Judicial Magistrate Court.
In view of these circumstances, the court held that there was no basis to conclude that Gopinath had intended to misuse the funds collected for the temple. The court further observed that, in the absence of material establishing the alleged offence, there was no necessity to continue the criminal proceedings.
The High Court consequently quashed the case registered against Karthik Gopinath.
The court also directed the authorities to release his frozen bank accounts.
Additionally, the funds currently lying under the control of the Thiruvottriyur Judicial Magistrate Court are to be handed over to the Sri Madurakali Amman Temple administration, along with the interest accrued on the amount.
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