CHENNAI: In a shocking incident that has sent ripples across Tamil Nadu, a DMK functionary was caught on video allegedly removing and walking away with a hundi—a temple donation box—installed at the Sundaramurthy Ayyanar Temple in Kolathur, Perambalur district. The man, identified as Thunaivendhan, was seen taking the hundi in full public view, ignoring protests from devotees and reportedly threatening officials from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.
What has further shocked devotees is the revelation that the hundi was not installed by temple authorities or the HR&CE, but by Thunaivendhan himself. In the undated video, he is seen confidently lifting the donation box, which reportedly contained offerings from devotees in the form of cash, jewellery, and precious metals.
The standard protocol in Tamil Nadu’s temples is that all hundis are installed by temple management or the HR&CE Department and opened in the presence of temple staff, government officials, and community representatives. In this case, the DMK functionary is said to have bypassed all regulations by installing an unauthorized collection box, misleading devotees who assumed it to be legitimate.
According to eyewitnesses, when HR&CE officials finally attempted to seal the illegal hundi, Thunaivendhan allegedly threatened them and took the box away. The brazenness of the act has shocked not only temple-goers but also political opponents and cultural organisations.
Reacting sharply, former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai posted a strongly worded tweet condemning the incident:
DMK functionary Thunaivendhan is caught on video lifting a Hundi from the Sundaramurthy Ayyanar Temple in Kolathur, Perambalur. Ironically, this Hundi wasn’t installed by the HR&CE Department, but by Thunaivendhan himself.
When officials finally acted to seal it, he resorted to… pic.twitter.com/7j0K00diUS
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) August 1, 2025
BJP spokesperson SG Suryah also expressed outrage
The brazen loot of temples under DMK rule continues.
In Perambalur, DMK functionary Thunaivendhan was caught lifting a Hundi in Ayyanar Temple. The ultimate irony is that he had installed the Hundi himself just to loot the offerings.When officials confronted him, he… pic.twitter.com/Dx32nyGmqU
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) August 1, 2025
Hindu Munnani and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) have strongly condemned the HR&CE Department for failing to prevent such incidents, questioning how a political cadre was allowed to manipulate temple premises for personal gain.
Critics argue that this incident reflects the continuing deterioration of ethical standards among DMK party workers. “This is not new,” says a senior cultural activist. “There was a time when DMK cadres were caught demanding free food from eateries, and CM Stalin had to apologise publicly. Now they’ve progressed—or rather regressed—to looting temples.”
The criticism doesn’t stop there. Allegations have long been made that DMK men involved in land grabbing, sex crimes, narcotics, theft, and assault enjoy impunity. “Today it’s a hundi theft. Tomorrow it might be temple lands or idols,” remarked a BJP local leader.
What also adds to the controversy is the ideological contradiction. The DMK has historically been known for promoting rationalist and atheist ideologies inspired by EV Ramasamy Periyar, and yet, here is a party functionary involved not only in temple affairs but also allegedly misappropriating sacred offerings.
In the aftermath of the video going viral, questions are now being asked about how many other temples may have illegal hundis installed by political entities, and what steps the HR&CE is taking to audit and secure temple donation mechanisms.
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