A Division Bench of the Supreme Court today posed a question (obiter dictum): “Is there any other religion where state-appointed officers sit inside religious institutions and make an inventory?”
On October 14, a Bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi made these observations while hearing an appeal filed by Venu Srinivasan, a prominent industrialist. The petition was filed challenging the February 2024 High Court order quashing the FIR involving Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore.
The petitioner, temple activist Rangarajan Narasimhan of Srirangam, has been pursuing the case. It concerns the theft and unauthorised replacement of an antique murti at the temple.
Well. I thought I can retire today but it is not so.
Another hearing. Today, the state wanted to answer a question posed by the court in last hearing.
It lasted nearly 45 minutes.
One question lead to another and as the court has to close be 245pm, the case is now… pic.twitter.com/9QyQgmEqsX
— ➶ Rangarajan Narasimhan ➶ (@OurTemples) October 14, 2026
Overruling the High Court order, the judges said, “Be it Christian, Jain, Buddhist, Muslim or any other religion,” he questioned, to which Additional Advocate General for Tamil Nadu Prashanto Chandra, who argued on behalf of the state, replied, “Maybe the Waqf Act has a provision. There is a mutawalli, perhaps.” However, Justice Kumar swiftly countered him and conveyed, “But that is an elected person, not state representation.”
Justice Aravind Kumar asked whether there are any other religions in Tamil Nadu where state-appointed officials sit within places of worship and make an inventory.
The petitioner said, “No other religion has an Act that allows the state executive to sit inside a temple and manage it.” The Bench posted the matter for a follow-up hearing on October 29, 2026.
🚨 THEFT OF PEACOCK IDOL AT SRI KAPALEESWARAR TEMPLE, CHENNAI#JusticeAravindKumar: Is there any other religion in Tamil Nadu where state-appointed officers sit inside religious institutions and make an inventory? Be it Christian, Jain, Buddhist, Muslim or any other religion?… pic.twitter.com/7gCYC8fGUi
— LawBeat (@LawBeatInd) October 14, 2026
The case stems from 2004, when allegations were made during the Kumbabhishekam that the original antique peacock murti (holding a flower) at the Punnaivanathanathar Sannadhi was reportedly removed and substituted with an identical-looking replica featuring a snake in its beak. Rangarajan Narasimhan filed a formal complaint alleging irregularities by HR and CE Department officials and the renovation committee.
Later, the TN Idol Wing of the TN Police registered an FIR in 2018 and filed a final report in 2022 naming industrialist Venu Srinivasan, who helped fund and oversee the restoration, among the accused.
Venu Srinivasan subsequently approached the Madras High Court, seeking to quash the criminal proceedings against him.
In February 2024, the Madras High Court quashed the proceedings against him and the other accused, cancelling the FIR against them. Aggrieved by this order, the petitioner approached the apex court and sought the cancellation of the High Court’s order.
Former Kapaleeswarar Temple Executive Officer Thirumagal was arrested on December 16, 2018, by the Idol Wing-CID for her alleged role in the murti replacement and theft. An FIR was filed against sthapathy M. Muthiah Sthapathy.
The Madras High Court questioned why Thirumagal was allowed to rejoin duty and serve as an Additional Commissioner after obtaining bail, contrasting this with the stricter suspensions of other temple officers, such as an executive officer at Varadarajapuram. The court later directed the Idol Wing to complete the probe and file a chargesheet.
Earlier, similar allegations of peacock murti replacement surfaced at other temples, including Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur, where a peacock murti was allegedly taken away in 2017.
