Several irregularities have reportedly surfaced in the distribution of passes for a recent temple kumbabhishekam, with allegations that supporters of a ruling party minister cornered a large number of passes and sold them at hotels and shops in Madurai.
According to a report in Junior Vikatan, complaints have emerged from several quarters alleging that the passes were sold in the black market for as much as ₹4,000 each.
The report further claims that the district secretary of the constituency represented by the minister allegedly acted as an agent in the sale of the passes. It also cautioned that such activities by people surrounding the minister could damage his reputation if he failed to take action.
The controversy has reportedly also angered former Tamil Nadu Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan. His mother, Rukmani, who is the chairperson of the temple’s board of trustees, had allegedly raised concerns over political interference in the kumbabhishekam.
Following this, the report claimed that members of the temple’s board of trustees were initially not allowed near the Rajagopuram during the ceremony. It further stated that Minister Nirmal Kumar intervened and ensured that Rukmani was seated in the first row.
The report also said that devotees who had arrived as early as midnight had to wait until the completion of the kumbabhishekam. Some of them reportedly left expressing displeasure that the arrangements appeared to prioritise VIPs.
According to the report, devotees also alleged that even holy water was not sprinkled on members of the general public during the ceremony.
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