The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has initiated disciplinary action against eight persons, including four temple employees and four officials, over the alleged misappropriation of donations from a hundi at the Koniamman Temple in Coimbatore. Police have arrested four of the temple staff involved in the alleged crime.
Coimbatore: The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has suspended eight persons, including four temple employees and four departmental officials, in connection with the alleged theft of donations from a hundi at the Arulmigu Koniamman Temple near Town Hall in Coimbatore. A police case has also been registered, and investigations are under way.
The action follows allegations that donations from one of the temple’s temporary hundis were misappropriated during the hundi counting process conducted on July 15. The temple has nine permanent hundis and six temporary hundis, and it is alleged that the donations from one of the temporary hundis were siphoned off during the counting process.
Following the complaint, a team of HR&CE officials led by Coimbatore Regional Joint Commissioner Ramesh conducted a surprise inspection at the temple on Friday evening. As part of the inquiry, officials examined records maintained at the temple’s administrative office and scrutinised CCTV footage recorded during the hundi counting process.
Based on the preliminary findings of the departmental inquiry, HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekarbabu ordered the suspension of eight persons. Four temple staff members — Balasubramanian (Ticket Seller), Saravanan (Office Assistant), Pradeep Kumar (Thiruvalagu Staff) and Krishnaraj (Priest) — have been accused of allegedly misappropriating donations from one of the hundis.
Disciplinary action has also been initiated against four HR&CE officials — Ramkumar (Range Inspector), Udhayakumar (Range Inspector), Kumar (Executive Officer) and Usha Nandini (Assistant Commissioner) — for allegedly failing to detect or prevent the incident.
The Ukkadam Police have registered a case against arrested four of the temple staff involved in the alleged crime. Further investigation is under way. Meanwhile, the HR&CE Department is continuing its departmental inquiry into the alleged hundi donation theft.
The action follows allegations that donations from one of the temple’s temporary hundis were misappropriated during the hundi counting process conducted on July 15. The temple has nine permanent hundis and six temporary hundis, and it is alleged that the donations from one of the temporary hundis were siphoned off during the counting process.
Following the complaint, a team of HR&CE officials led by Coimbatore Regional Joint Commissioner Ramesh conducted a surprise inspection at the temple on Friday evening. As part of the inquiry, officials examined records maintained at the temple’s administrative office and scrutinised CCTV footage recorded during the hundi counting process.
Based on the preliminary findings of the departmental inquiry, HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekarbabu ordered the suspension of eight persons. Four temple staff members — Balasubramanian (Ticket Seller), Saravanan (Office Assistant), Pradeep Kumar (Thiruvalagu Staff) and Krishnaraj (Priest) — have been accused of allegedly misappropriating donations from one of the hundis.
Disciplinary action has also been initiated against four HR&CE officials — Ramkumar (Range Inspector), Udhayakumar (Range Inspector), Kumar (Executive Officer) and Usha Nandini (Assistant Commissioner) — for allegedly failing to detect or prevent the incident.
The Ukkadam Police have registered a case against arrested four of the temple staff involved in the alleged crime. Further investigation is under way. Meanwhile, the HR&CE Department is continuing its departmental inquiry into the alleged hundi donation theft.