In Mettupalayam near Coimbatore, four priests were arrested for embezzling the plate offerings at Vanabadrakaliamman Temple. The complaint led to arrests following police investigation.
Coimbatore: In a recent development at the Vanabadrakaliamman Temple located on the banks of the Bhavani River in Tekkampatti, near Mettupalayam, four temple priests have been apprehended for misappropriation of the devotees' offerings. Kailasamurthy, the temple’s executive officer, had lodged a complaint last month at the Mettupalayam court, alleging that the accused priests misused the funds from plate offerings contributed by worshippers.
According to the complaint, priests Ragupathi, Tanda Pani, Vishnukumar, and Saravanan were involved in this embezzlement. The custodian Vasantham Sampath was also implicated for delaying action despite being aware of the issue. Following a court directive, police registered a case against these individuals on 3rd April and pursued an investigation. The investigation confirmed the allegations, leading to the arrest of the four priests on the night of April 25.
After the arrest, the accused were presented in court and subsequently jailed. It is noteworthy that one of the arrested priests, Ragupathi, is the son-in-law of the hereditary custodian Vasantham Sampath, who had previously sought anticipatory bail which was denied by the court.
According to the complaint, priests Ragupathi, Tanda Pani, Vishnukumar, and Saravanan were involved in this embezzlement. The custodian Vasantham Sampath was also implicated for delaying action despite being aware of the issue. Following a court directive, police registered a case against these individuals on 3rd April and pursued an investigation. The investigation confirmed the allegations, leading to the arrest of the four priests on the night of April 25.
After the arrest, the accused were presented in court and subsequently jailed. It is noteworthy that one of the arrested priests, Ragupathi, is the son-in-law of the hereditary custodian Vasantham Sampath, who had previously sought anticipatory bail which was denied by the court.