CHENNAI: In a striking display of dissent, the Hindu Munnani, alongside hundreds of devotees, staged a unique “one-leg” protest on the shores of Tiruchendur. Standing just outside the premises of the historic Subramanya Swamy Temple, the protestors demanded a comprehensive Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department (CB-CID) probe into a multi-lakh darshan ticket scam. Led by Hindu Munnani State Vice President VP Jayakumar, the demonstration has once again turned the spotlight on systemic financial irregularities and allegations of a deeply entrenched nexus within the temple administration.
The Protest: Standing on One Leg for Justice
The shores of Tiruchendur witnessed high drama as a large gathering of Hindu Munnani functionaries and regular temple-goers gathered to voice their outrage against ongoing corruption. In a symbolic act of penance and protest, demonstrators stood on one leg, raising slogans against the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department and the temple’s internal administration.
Speaking at the demonstration, VP Jayakumar emphasised that an internal inquiry by the temple board is insufficient given the scale of the fraud. The organisation argued that only an independent, high-level agency like the CB-CID could unearth the full extent of the scam, which they believe extends far beyond a single rogue employee.
The Mechanics of the Ticket Scam
The Subramanya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur, recognized as one of the six sacred abodes (Arupadaiveedu) of Lord Murugan, attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims daily. While free entry lines exist, the temple offers a Rs 100 special darshan ticket to allow devotees a shorter waiting time.
The current controversy erupted after viral messages on WhatsApp and other social media platforms exposed the distribution of fake receipts for these Rs 100 tickets. Investigators revealed that a temporary female staff member, identified as Menaka, allegedly manipulated the temple’s ticketing system. By utilizing an alternate internet browser, she was able to generate valid-looking receipts that appeared in abstract administrative records but vanished entirely from the reprint verification system. Preliminary findings indicate that the fraudulent practice skimmed as much as Rs 25 lakh from temple revenues.
Administrative Response and Financial Recovery
Following widespread public outcry, the temple’s Thakkar (fit person) and administrative heads placed Menaka under suspension. Reports indicate that HR&CE authorities had been receiving formal complaints from disgruntled devotees for at least 15 days before taking definitive action.
In a startling development during the internal verification process, the accused employee reportedly admitted to the irregularities and returned Rs 5 lakh of the misappropriated funds. Furthermore, she has submitted a written undertaking promising to reimburse the remaining balance within a few days, alongside a plea for leniency. While the HR&CE department has confirmed the suspension, they are still under intense public pressure to lodge a formal criminal complaint with the police.
A History of Unchecked Irregularities
The Hindu Munnani and local devotee groups argue that this scam is not an isolated incident but part of a recurring pattern of exploitation. Historically, the temple has suffered severe revenue leaks. In September 2019, a group of pilgrims from Chennai documented an ongoing racket where a nexus of temple staff and priests collected Rs 250 per person for special entry without issuing any official tickets.
Furthermore, despite viral video evidence showing staff collecting cash directly from devotees and stashing it into bags without documentation, the political leadership of the HR&CE department has previously denied such widespread corruption.
Defying Judicial Mandates
The recurrence of these scams comes despite strict directives from the judiciary. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court previously intervened following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by A.S. Shanmuga Rajan of Chennai. A division bench comprising Justices S.M. Subramaniam and G. Arul Murugan had explicitly ordered the Thoothukudi Superintendent of Police and Tiruchendur temple officials to initiate strict criminal prosecution against unauthorized middlemen and corrupt insiders.
The court had firmly noted that it is the absolute duty of the HR&CE department to ensure that devotees can offer worship in a peaceful, disciplined, and transparent manner. Protestors argue that the latest ₹25 lakh browser scam is a blatant violation of the High Court’s directives, proving that local administrative oversight has failed, making a CB-CID investigation an absolute necessity to restore the sanctity of the shrine.
