Tamil Nadu Today: Tiruchendur temple priest demands ‘bribe’ during HR&CE Minister visit

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective.

First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming.

Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day.

Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers

Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there

The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features.

HR&CE Minister S. Ramesh during a surprise visit to Tiruchendur Subramanya Swami temple on May 29, 2026 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister S. Ramesh conducted a surprise inspection at the renowned Tiruchendur Subramanya Swami temple, where a controversy erupted after a priest allegedly demanded money from the Minister for a speedier darshan, unaware of his identity.

The Minister entered the temple premises with his aide, wearing a face mask. His aide casually enquired with the priest about darshan. The priest allegedly demanded a certain amount, following which the Minister’s aide transferred the money through an online transaction.

Tamil Nadu Law Minister C.T.R. Nirmalkumar accused Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of politicising the Mekedatu issue even though the Supreme Court of India had only directed the Karnataka government to submit the project report.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat in Chennai, he said Karnataka could not conduct bhoomi pooja for the construction of a dam across Mekedatu since the Supreme Court had merely sought the submission of a project report.

Former AIADMK Minister and party whip Agri S.S. Krishnamurthy said that the AIADMK, led by its general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, would seek a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations of horse-trading involving four of its MLAs by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by its president and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, if the ruling party does not stop such activities immediately.

A 40-year-old farmer was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Bargur hills in Anthiyur taluk of Erode district this morning.

The police identified the deceased as Thangaraj of Eppatham Palayam village, who worked in his land near the forest area.