A major fraud amounting to Rs 3.4 crore has been uncovered at the Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram, involving the illegal sale of free laddus meant for pilgrims. Six temple employees have been suspended, and three temporary staff members have been terminated in connection with the scam.
How the Fraud Was Uncovered
The state government had introduced the free laddu scheme in the 2023-24 budget. According to sources, the irregularities came to light following an investigation conducted by the temple joint commissioner, S Selladurai. The probe revealed that between 2023 and February 2026, junior assistant K Panchamoorthy, who served as 'peshkar' (in charge of temple offerings), orchestrated a systematic fraud by diverting approximately 11.4 lakh free laddus. These laddus were sold illegally at temple counters, and the collections were pocketed by the accused.
Modus Operandi
Panchamoorthy, along with eight other staff members, regularly procured raw materials, prepared laddus, and mixed them with the official stock to tally the numbers. The group also systematically underreported the number of laddus distributed free of cost to pilgrims, thereby creating a surplus that could be sold illicitly.
Action Taken
Besides Panchamoorthy, junior assistants Lavanya and Ambika, ticket seller Selvi, and support staff Sivaneswari and Vikram were placed under suspension. Three temporary workers — Prabhu Ravi, Nithyanandam, and Balaji — were dismissed from service. Further investigations are underway to identify any other individuals involved in the fraud.
