Temple activist TR Ramesh has urged the TVK government authorities to return the Rs.9.40 Crores deposited with the Public Works Department (PWD) to Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, along with any interest applicable as per court orders, after the Madras High Court directed the Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) department and the District Collector of Tiruvannamalai to coordinate with the PWD for the return of the amount.
The development follows Ramesh’s 2024 challenge to G.O. No. 336 issued by the then DMK Government in 2023, authorising a shopping complex to be built right in front of the Eastern Raja Gopuram of Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple using Rs.6.40 Crores of temple funds. Ramesh and Allikuttai Radhakrishnan had challenged the G.O. through PILs, following which the Division Bench stayed the construction at the beginning.
After the TVK Government came to power, the Government, through the Minister, announced the withdrawal of approvals given to several shopping complex projects announced earlier. Subsequently, the TVK Government represented before the Court regarding the withdrawal of the earlier G.O. 336 of 2023 through G.O. No. 58 dated 19.06.2026.
Hearing the matter, the Justice G. Jayachandran and Justice E. Manoharan directed the HR&CE Commissioner and the Tiruvannamalai District Collector to coordinate with the PWD to return the Rs.9.40 Crores deposited with the PWD to Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, along with any applicable interest.
Ramesh described the development as significant as the proposal was first stayed, subsequently withdrawn, and the temple funds involved were also ordered to be returned.
Great news for Temple Devotees!
In 2024, I had challenged G.O. No. 336 issued by the then DMK Government authorizing a shopping complex to be built right in of the Eastern Raja Gopuram of Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple – utilizing Rs. 6.40 Crores of Temple Funds. I and Shri… pic.twitter.com/YxybDWkmtN
— trramesh (@trramesh) August 13, 2026
Taking his social media platform X, Ramesh said, He said, “Once again Hon’ble Madras High Court has come to protect Hindu temples, their funds and properties.”
In another development, Central Crime Branch police have arrested Village Administrative Officer (VAO) Arasan in connection with the alleged transfer and registration of temple property worth Rs.60 crores belonging to Madurai Meenakshi Sundaradeswarar Temple. Police questioned him before producing him in a court, which remanded him to judicial custody. TVK Government has suspended Deputy Collector of Ramanathapuram district and former Tahasildar of Paramakudi, Anbazhagan.
Police arrested two more and booked six others, including suspended Sub-Registrar Justin Manikandan, in a fresh case involving registration fraud that surfaced in Palani. He was arrested earlier in connection with the case that surfaced in July 2026 over the illegal registration of a 1.4-acre prime plot belonging to the Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Mutt/Temple. Market-valued at around Rs 100 crore, the land was fraudulently sold and registered to private buyers for just Rs 2 crore by exploiting a court order. He has been suspended.
Now, a fresh case has been registered based on a complaint from Palani Sub-Registrar Eswari on August 11 that a private property in Ayakudi, near Palani, was fraudulently transferred through fabricated documents and registered in violation of legal procedures on July 7, a day after the controversial Palani Mutt land was registered. Police said Justin Manikandan, Mani, who allegedly sold the land using forged records, Kandaswamy, who is said to have bought the property, and Vijayakumar, a witness for the seller, and two others were involved.
This fraud came to light after the Registration Department conducted verification following reports about the disputed property. There were rumours that it belonged to the temple, but on verification, it was found to be private land.
In another development related to this, Dindigul Judge S. Packiaraj dismissed the bail petitions of Justin Manikandan and JeyaPrabkash, who were arrested in the fraudulent registration of Palani Mutt land on 12th August. Justin Manikandan was admitted to the ICU following health issues. Advocate S. Anwardeen (65) died in judicial custody on 7th August. He was arrested by the Crime Branch along with Murugadass, Vellaithurai, and Sethupathy in the case.
