Tamil Nadu: Kallakurichi Temple’s valuable artefacts allegedly sold as scrap

Kallakurichi, which earned fame for the illicit hooch tragedy that killed 68 poor men and women, has recently made headlines again due to an attempt to sell old items, along with rare and antique artefacts, to a scrap dealer during daylight from the Thirunavalur Bhaktajaneswarar temple. This led to a heated argument between the temple official, Madeena, and the public. This incident is a classic example of how temple management functions in the state, further justifying calls for freeing temples from government control.

There have been instances of embezzlement, mal administration, illegal sale of temple properties, melting of gold jewellery with precious stones, alienating temple’s movable and immovable properties, allowing illegal encroachments, preventing agama rituals, and collecting stiff fees to enter the temple.  Now, the alert public seized a tractor that carried allegedly rare antique items, including vessels in the guise of old scrap.

The public found a lot of old iron rods and wooden items on the tractor.  However, close scrutiny showed that a clandestine attempt was made to sell valuables in the name of scrap. To their shock, the tractor that carried the goods was hired by the  HR and CE department staff to sell them as scrap.

According to the media, after the consecration (on November 21, 2024) , the temple management wanted to dispose of iron rods and wooden items stored in the room as scrap. When the tractor carrying the goods stopped at an old article dealer shop in Pu Mambakkam on December 16, the public suspected something amiss in the transactions. They found the plan of HR and CE officials who tried to sell valuables among them. It was the second trip to the scrap shop. The public, who gathered in good numbers, questioned the tractor driver, who showed the fingers to the shop owner, who in turn said it was taken with permission from EO. On hearing the public seizing the tractor, one official identified as Madheena came and engaged in heated arguments with the public. She threatened that action would be taken as they prevented the public official from discharging duty. She also warned about booking them in a PCR case.   The woman officer said they had decided to sell scrap to give salaries to the temple staff.

Reports said, “they sold nearly 20 tons of waste articles. When the villagers confronted the officials, it was done with the approval of EO. When the villagers asked the Madheena, she was evasive and said it was the JC who had ordered to sell them as scrap”.

The public refused to release the tractor. A complaint has been lodged with the Thirunavalur police against the EO, his assistant Lokesh and the tractor owner Ayyappan for allegedly taking the temple’s old iron and wooden items.

Hindu Munnani, in a post in X, said, “ Oh, was it a Dravidian model! stole the panchaloga articles, wooden doors, Thiruvacchi (metal arch kept behind the Idols) pooja articles worth several crores were categorised as scrap and sold them without anyone’s knowledge. But un-luck would have it, the public noticed the tractor.  HR and CE minister Sekar Babu thought his god, namely the Dravida model government  CM M K Stalin, would be happy for his actions. The sale of panchaloga items sold as scrap has shocked the devotees and proved how the HR and CE have been managing the temple and its properties.

 

Miscreants took away the Shiv Ling from a temple at Palayankottai near Srimushnam in Cuddalore district. It is a well-known temple in the district, drawing a large number of devotees. After the Karthigai Deepam festival, the Shiv Ling murti was missing. Devotees and temple management preferred a complaint to the police. When the police were investigating the missing murti, locals found it in a pond. People recovered the murti. They held a roadblock demanding arresting the people who stole it and threw it in the pond. Police and Revenue officials held parlays with them and assured them of immediate action. Accepting their assurance, the public disbursed from the area.