The Hindu : Saidapet temple trustee held for misappropriation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Saidapet temple trustee held for misappropriation

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI July 9 . The managing trustee of the Prasanna Venkata Narasimha Perumal Temple at Saidapet, R. Balakrishna Chettiar, has been arrested and remanded to custody on charges of misappropriating about Rs. 60 lakhs of temple funds.

This is consequent to a complaint preferred against the accused by a Saidapet resident, A.N. Damodara Chettiar, to the XI Metropolitan Magistrate Court that the managing trustee leased out over 150 temple property on Kothaval Chavadi Street, Kavarai Street and Perumal Koil Street and embezzled the lease fees of Rs. 11.11 lakhs and subsequent rental income from the property, estimated at Rs. 25,000 per month, since 1992.

About 5.5 acres of the temple land at Sholavaram had also been reportedly leased out by him for Rs. 8.79 lakhs to 91 persons and the amount had not been remitted to the Tamil Nadu State Apex Cooperative Bank.

There were no proper accounts for expenses made or remittance received under his management.

He had also withdrawn money from the temple bank account.

The complainant also stated that lakhs of rupees collected by the accused as donation for constructing the Rajagopuram and temple car had been diverted for personal use.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

`Flying squad' operation runs into rough weather

Govt. apathy keeps farmers away from market

Civic issues more important than mayoral flag: CJ

Ask for identity of search parties: IT dept.

`Madanagopal had foes all around'

Advocate challenges colour code for number plates

Saidapet temple trustee held for misappropriation

Focus on Railways-MTC coordination