Temple activist TR Ramesh has called on authorities in Tamil Nadu to return approximately 9.40 crore rupees held by the Public Works Department to the Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, including any applicable interest, following a directive from the Madras High Court. The court instructed the Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department along with the Tiruvannamalai District Collector to work with the Public Works Department on the transfer.
The matter originated from a government order issued in 2023 that permitted construction of a shopping complex in front of the temple’s eastern gateway using temple resources. Ramesh and another petitioner challenged the order through public interest litigation, leading to an initial stay on the project. After a change in state administration, the new government withdrew the earlier approvals for multiple similar projects.
In June 2026, the administration informed the court of the withdrawal through a subsequent order. The division bench then directed coordination to ensure the deposited funds are returned to the temple. Ramesh described the sequence of events as notable because the proposal was halted, later withdrawn, and the funds ordered restored.
Ramesh stated on social media that the court had once again acted to safeguard Hindu temples, their resources, and properties. The ruling has been welcomed by temple devotees as a protective measure for religious institutions.
In a separate development, police from the Central Crime Branch arrested a village administrative officer in connection with the alleged transfer of temple property valued at around 60 crore rupees belonging to the Madurai Meenakshi Sundaradeswarar Temple. The individual was questioned and later remanded to judicial custody.
The state government has suspended a deputy collector from Ramanathapuram district and a former tahsildar from Paramakudi. Additional arrests were made in a fraud case involving registration irregularities that emerged in Palani. Two further individuals were taken into custody, and six others, including a suspended sub-registrar, were named in the case.
The fraud involved the illegal registration of a 1.4-acre plot associated with the Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple or mutt. The land, estimated at a market value of about 100 crore rupees, was reportedly sold for a much lower amount through misuse of a court order. A fresh case was registered after verification revealed fabricated documents used to transfer another property near Palani.
A judge in Dindigul dismissed bail applications filed by two accused in the Palani registration matter. One of the individuals required medical attention and was admitted to an intensive care unit. An advocate arrested in a related case died while in judicial custody earlier in August.
These incidents highlight ongoing scrutiny of temple property management and registration processes in several districts. Authorities continue investigations into alleged irregularities involving religious endowments and land records.
