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Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tamil Nadu HR&CE minister defends use of temple funds for education amid EPS criticism
CHENNAI: Hitting back at AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) for criticising the use of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department funds to build educational institutions, Tamil Nadu HR&CE Minister P. K. Sekarbabu on Tuesday accused the opposition leader of being "steeped in ignorance" and lacking awareness of historical precedents. Sekarbabu's sharp response came after Palaniswami, while addressing a public meeting in Coimbatore during his ongoing state-wide campaign 'Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom', questioned the DMK government's move to construct colleges using temple donations. "There is nothing wrong in building colleges," Palaniswami said from his campaign vehicle, "but the AIADMK government did it using its own funds, not the offerings of devotees." Countering this, Sekarbabu stated that several educational institutions have already been successfully established using HR&CE funds. "What is wrong with building colleges for the welfare of students?" he asked, defending the initiative and ridiculing Palaniswami's comments. "His remarks only expose his ignorance about the functioning of the HR&CE department and its long-standing tradition of using temple resources for public good." The HR&CE Minister also pointed out that temples under the department's control have always been central to community development, including in the areas of education and healthcare. Meanwhile, parents of students from Arulmigu Sri Kapaleeswarar Arts and Science College in Chief Minister M. K. Stalin's Kolathur constituency staged a protest condemning Palaniswami's criticism. Holding placards that read "It is not wrong to build colleges using temple funds," the parents gathered on the college premises and raised slogans expressing support for the government's initiative. The Kolathur-based college, one of several institutions built using HR&CE funds, currently has over 750 students enrolled across five academic streams. The HR&CE minister also said that the protest from the parent community reflects a growing public endorsement of the HR&CE department's efforts to utilise temple resources for expanding educational access, especially in areas where more institutions were required. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Time of India
Scamster in cop's clothing held for ‘digitally arresting' man, defrauding him of 16.5 lakh
Chennai: A man who impersonated a cybercrime officer from New Delhi and 'digitally arrested' a Kolathur-based automobile shop owner and conned him out of 16.5lakh has been arrested on said the victim, D Rajkumar , 37, received a phone call from an unknown number on April 16. J Ananthakumar, 43, of Chidambaram Nagar in Tuticorin said he was a cybercrime officer from Delhi and charged Rajkumar with involvement in narcotic drug trafficking and circulating intimate videos. He instructed Rajkumar to appear before the Delhi cybercrime headquarters and coerced him into staying on a video call, simulating a 'digital arrest' to prevent him from seeking told him the cybercrime wing was monitoring his contacts and transactions, and made him transfer 16.5 lakh to a "cybercrime account". After the transfer was made, the caller abruptly disconnected the video that he had been deceived, Rajkumar lodged a complaint with the cybercrime wing on April 21. A case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology officers traced the digital trail and cheque transactions linked to the fraud, which led to the arrest of Ananthakumar on Tuesday. He was brought to Chennai for revealed that Ananthakumar was part of a wider cyber fraud operation, as he collected personal data from the public to open mule bank accounts, which were later used to receive money obtained through digital scams. He retained possession of the cheques, ATM cards, passbooks, and SIM cards associated with these accounts and passed the information to cybercriminals. In return, he received a opened 25 fake bank accounts and helped transfer nearly 60 lakh defrauded from multiple victims. He signed cheques, withdrew the funds, and handed the money to the scammers, receiving a 3% commission for each was produced before a magistrate court and remanded in judicial custody. Further investigations are on.
