Madurai: The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Hindu Munnani have voiced serious concerns regarding the safety of the Madurai Adheenam, Sri La Sri Harihara Sri Gnanasambanda Desika Swamigal, following a recent road accident involving his vehicle. The incident, which occurred on May 2, 2025 near Kallakurichi while the Adheenam was en route to a Saiva Siddhanta conference in Kattankulathur near Chennai, has been described by the religious leader himself as a potential attempt on his life. Both Hindu organisations have urged the Tamil Nadu government to provide immediate and adequate security to the Adheenam, citing suspicions of foul play and potential threats stemming from his recent statements and actions.
The Madurai Adheenam was traveling to attend the 6th International Saiva Siddhanta Conference, scheduled from May 3 to 5, jointly organised by SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) and the International Institute of Saiva Siddhantha Research of the Tirukayilaya Paramparai Dharmapuram Adheenam. The incident took place near the Salem roundabout in Ulundurpet, close to Kallakurichi, at approximately 9:45 a.m. on May 2. While the Adheenam sustained minor injuries, his vehicle suffered visible damage, prompting him to express strong suspicions about the nature of the accident.
In a statement released on May 4, the Vishva Hindu Parishad detailed the sequence of events as narrated by the Adheenam and his associates. According to the VHP, an old white car without number plates was involved in a collision with the Adheenam’s vehicle. The VHP statement further claimed that the driver of the unidentified car was wearing a skull cap, identifying him as a Muslim. This detail has fueled the VHP’s suspicion that the incident could be a retaliatory act following the Adheenam’s recent condemnation of the Pahalgham terrorist attack.
The VHP also alleged that the same suspicious vehicle made a second attempt to crash into the Adheenam’s car at a road barricade. Expressing strong condemnation for what it termed as “acts of fundamentalists,” the VHP urged the Tamil Nadu government to be vigilant against forces attempting to create a “terror psychosis” in the state. The organisation demanded an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident, calling for the arrest and prosecution of the driver of the unidentified vehicle. The VHP also conveyed its gratitude that the Madurai Adheenam escaped the accident without serious injuries and continues to perform his religious duties with courage.
Echoing the VHP’s concerns, leaders of the Hindu Munnani also met with the Madurai Adheenam to inquire about his health and gather details regarding the alleged attempt on his life by what they referred to as “peace marga followers,” a thinly veiled reference to individuals from the Muslim community.
ஆதீனம் அவர்களின் நலன் விசாரிப்பு…
மதுரை ஆதீனம் அவர்களின் வாகனத்தின் மீது திட்டமிட்டு தாக்குதல் நடத்தப்பட்டது.
அது குறித்து கேட்டறிந்து, ஆதீனம் அவர்களின் நலன் விசாரித்தார் இந்துமுன்னணி தென் பாரத அமைப்பாளர் பக்தன் அவர்கள்… உடன் இந்துமுன்னணி பொறுப்பாளர்கள்..#Madurai |… pic.twitter.com/aG5fRz3B0l
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) May 4, 2025
The Madurai Adheenam himself has been vocal about his belief that the accident was not accidental but rather a deliberate conspiracy targeting him. He alleged that the vehicle involved in the collision was deliberately following his car, lacked number plates, and was driven in a reckless manner with the clear intent to cause harm. The Adheenam specifically pointed to the attire of the driver of the other vehicle, stating it was an individual from a minority community, further solidifying his suspicion of a targeted attack.
Following the incident, the Adheenam has expressed a deep sense of insecurity and has demanded protection. He stated that if the Tamil Nadu state government fails to provide adequate security, he would be compelled to approach the union government for the same. The Adheenam cited previous threats to his life, particularly in the context of his efforts to reclaim lands worth several crores belonging to the Adheenam from tenants and encroachers. “I have been threatened for raising questions. They told me I cannot enter the town or perform my rituals to God,” the Adheenam stated, highlighting the gravity of the situation. He further revealed his intention to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to convey his concerns about the threats he faces and to seek their intervention for security.
உயிர் தப்பிய மதுரையாதீனம் pic.twitter.com/wn4LBKB2GT
— Kathir News (@KathirNews) May 2, 2025
Adding to the concerns raised by the VHP and Hindu Munnani, Sri Masillamani Desiga Gnanasambanda Swamigal, the current head of the Dharmapuram Adheenam, another prominent religious institution founded in the 16th century, also took to social media platform X to allege a “planned conspiracy” behind the accident. He expressed relief that the Madurai Adheenam escaped the potentially fatal incident and urged the Tamil Nadu government to provide him with necessary protection.
கார் விபத்து திட்டமிட்ட சதி! #CarAccident| #MaduraiAadhenam| #DharmapuraAadhenamhttps://t.co/y4W3uzOWeZ pic.twitter.com/Ilbqe0DWdx
— Dinamalar (@dinamalarweb) May 2, 2025
However, the Tamil Nadu Police have issued a statement dismissing any suspicion of foul play in the road accident. According to the Kallakurichi Police, their initial probe into the incident near Ulundurpet indicated that the SUV carrying the Adheenam was en route to Chennai when it collided with another car near the Salem roundabout. The police stated that both vehicles sustained only minor damage and that CCTV footage from the area revealed that the Adheenam’s SUV had taken the service road in Ajees Nagar, Ulundurpet, instead of the flyover.
The police statement explicitly warned against the spread of rumors on social media regarding the incident, asserting that “strict legal action will be taken against those spreading fake news and rumours about this accident.” This firm stance by the Tamil Nadu Police seems to contradict the claims and suspicions raised by the Madurai Adheenam and the Hindu organisations.
In response to the police’s dismissal of foul play, the Hindu Munnani has vehemently questioned the integrity of the investigation and the motives behind the police’s quick conclusion. In a post on its official social media handle X, the Hindu Munnani raised several critical questions: “What is the mystery behind TN police’s attempts to save the people who hit Adheenam’s car? Why does it warn action would be taken against people who spread false news? Adheenam alleged in his briefing with media that a vehicle followed his car that had no number plates and tried to kill him, and the occupants of the car wore caps (skull caps). Who were the people in the car that hit Adheenam’s car? Who is/are the owner(s) of the car? Why were the number plates removed?”
மதுரை ஆதீனத்தின் வாகனத்தில் மோதிய மர்ம நபர்களை,
காவல்துறை காப்பாற்ற முயற்சிப்பதின் மர்மம் என்ன…!!கள்ளக்குறிச்சியில் சென்று கொண்டிருந்த மதுரை ஆதீனத்தின் வாகனத்தில் மோதி விபத்து ஏற்படுத்திய விவகாரத்தில் பொய் செய்தி பரப்புவோர் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என கள்ளக்குறிச்சி… pic.twitter.com/IwPk4KA5Tf
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) May 4, 2025
The Hindu Munnani further criticised the police’s approach, stating that instead of seeking answers to these crucial questions and arresting the culprits, the police were behaving like politicians by issuing warnings against spreading rumors. The organisation urged the police to abandon this attitude, conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, and bring the perpetrators to justice.
மதுரை ஆதீனம் அவர்களின் மீது திட்டமிட்ட கொலை தாக்குதலா?சுவாமிகளுக்கு உரிய பாதுகாப்பை தமிழக அரசு உறுதி செய்ய வேண்டும்- மாநிலத் தலைவர் காடேஸ்வரா சி. சுப்பிரமணியம் அவர்களின் பத்திரிகை அறிக்கை…#madurai#ஆதீனம்#விபத்து#இந்துமுன்னணிhttps://t.co/jGIsrHLCav @dinamalarweb… pic.twitter.com/ZFD9lj8e5m
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) May 2, 2025
It is noteworthy that the Madurai Adheenam is a known and vocal supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has been actively campaigning for the government to step out of the administration of Hindu temples, advocating for greater autonomy for religious institutions. This political alignment adds another layer of complexity to the situation and the suspicions surrounding the accident. The Hindu Munnani has also explicitly expressed its doubt that the accident was merely coincidental, suggesting it could indeed have been a deliberate attempt on the Adheenam’s life.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran also expressed his shock upon hearing the news of the Madurai Adheenam’s accident. He stated that he immediately contacted the Adheenam over the phone to inquire about his well-being and was relieved to learn that he had sustained only minor injuries. Nagendran appealed to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to order a comprehensive probe to identify the vehicle involved in the incident and ascertain the true circumstances surrounding the crash.
உளுந்தூர்பேட்டை அருகே, மதுரை ஆதீனத்தின் 293-வது பீடாதிபதியான ஸ்ரீலஸ்ரீ ஹரிஹர ஸ்ரீ ஞான சம்பந்ததேசிக பரமாச்சார்ய சுவாமிகள் சென்ற வாகனத்தின் மீது மற்றொரு வாகனம் மோதி விபத்துக்குள்ளானதாக வெளியான தகவலறிந்து மிகுந்த அதிர்ச்சியடைந்தேன்.
உடனடியாக தொலைபேசி வாயிலாக மதுரை ஆதீனம் சுவாமிகள்…
— Nainar Nagenthran (@NainarBJP) May 2, 2025
The Adheenam’s stated intention to seek intervention from the union government if the state fails to provide adequate protection could further escalate the issue and draw national attention to the concerns raised by the VHP and Hindu Munnani.
