Tamil Nadu: An HR and CE inspector was detained for embezzling 86 lakhs rupees

Monday saw the arrest of an inspector from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department in Uthangarai, who was accused of embezzling Rs 86 lakh.

Palvannan (57), a resident of Laadapuram in the Perambalur district, was named as the suspect.

“Palvannan worked as HR and CE inspector in Uthangarai for the last two years,” said DSP Parthiban of Uthangarai. He oversaw forty-three temples. He embezzled Rs 2 lakh from each temple throughout his term, for a total of Rs 86 lakh for 43 temples. The sum had been set aside for temple upkeep. He was sent to a different region in December, and when the new inspector came over in February, he discovered the anomaly and notified higher authorities. In February, the Uthangarai police station received a complaint from Krishnagiri Assistant Commissioner of HR and CE. On Sunday, he was taken into custody in Tiruchy by a special squad led by Uthangarai DSP. On Monday night, he was placed under detention in Dharmapuri jail.”

Three other complaints, according to Parthiban, were received from the villages of Kariyaperumal Valasai, Nochipatti, and Singarapettai, alleging that temple gems valued at more than 125 sovereigns and under Palvannan’s custody were held in a different bank vault.