In a shocking revelation, former Inspector General of Police Pon Manickavel has alleged that ₹1,153 crore has been looted from temples in Tamil Nadu during the past three years. Manickavel made this statement while speaking to reporters after visiting the ancient Arudhra Kabaleeswarar Temple in Erode.He claimed that the temple’s antiquity has been destroyed, and ancient idols surrounding the sanctum sanctorum have been stolen and replaced with new ones. Manickavel recalled that the Prime Minister, during his visit to Tamil Nadu last year, had spoken about the plundering of temple properties.
Manickavel alleged that the previous and current governments have collected taxes from temples, citing that in 2018, ₹327 crore was collected, ₹348 crore in 2019, and ₹478 crore in 2021. He further stated that currently, ₹656 crore is being collected as tax from Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu, which translates to ₹56 crore per month.
The former IG’s allegations have sparked outrage, with many demanding a thorough investigation into the matter.