In a shocking incident that has raised serious questions about the administration of temple properties, two contract employees of the Tiruttani Murugan temple were caught embezzling more than ₹1 lakh from the temple’s hundi (donation box) a few days ago. The arrested individuals are currently behind bars, but the controversy surrounding the theft continues to grow.
Devotees visiting the Thiruthani Murugan Temple often make offerings of money, gold, and silver in the temple’s collection boxes. These offerings are collected and counted by temple staff and volunteers every 30 days.
The hundi was opened for counting in the presence of HR&CE Joint Commissioner-in-charge Arunachalam, Trustee Head Trustee Sreedharan, Trustees Usharavi, Mohanan, Suresh Babu, and Nagan. Employees and volunteers from 29 sub-temples, including Thiruthani Murugan Temple, participated in the process, with the offerings of money, gold, and silver being counted separately.
During the counting, Vyjayanthi, 44, from Nagapoondi, a contract employee for 13 years, and Thenmozhi, 35, from Veeramangalam, were caught on surveillance cameras stealing money. They were seen hiding ₹1,15,790 in their sarees.
The temple officials promptly confiscated the stolen money. The Joint Commissioner of the temple filed a complaint at the Thiruthani police station. Police have registered a case and are currently investigating the incident.
State President Kadeswara Subramaniam of the Hindu Munnani has issued a scathing statement, attributing the audacity of the crime to what he describes as the DMK government’s anti-Hindu stance.
Condemning the incident, the Hindu Munnani issued a statement saying, “Two days ago, employees at the Tiruthani Murugan temple who were responsible for counting the hundi money were caught embezzling lakhs of rupees and are now in jail. The public believes this boldness stems from the DMK government’s anti-Hindu stance. While the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister boasts about reclaiming temple properties and lands, employees from his department are looting temple assets and stealing hundi money. The government, seemingly unwilling to protect temple property, should hand over temple management to devout spiritual devotees and religious elders.”
The statement by Hindu Munnani head Kadeswara Subramanian also added, “A proper procedure for counting the hundi money should be established, with advance notice of hundi openings displayed on a notice board. Actions taken after theft, without proper preparation, appear complicit in the crime. Legal action should be taken against those involved in irregularities and theft, and authorities should not cover it up.”
He urged that the police should monitor whether officials from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department are involved in the theft of hundi offerings.
On behalf of the Hindu Munnani, he requested the Tamil Nadu government to implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future and to respect the donations made by devotees with devotion.
உண்டியல் பணம் திருட்டு-பக்தர்களின் காணிக்கையை, ஆலயங்களை காப்பதில் திமுக அரசு அலட்சியம்-ஆலய சொத்துக்களை கொள்ளையடிக்கும் இந்து சமய அறநிலையத்துறை ஊழியர்கள் – மாநிலத் தலைவர் காடேஸ்வரா சுப்பிரமணியம் அறிக்கை#HRCE#அறநிலையத்துறை#கோவில்#உண்டியல்#இந்துமுன்னணிhttps://t.co/H6WeqvXXBR
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) July 4, 2024
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