The allegations that emerged against Devanathan in November 2009 were deeply troubling. He was accused of engaging in sexual acts with multiple female devotees inside the in Kanchipuram.
Beyond criminal charges, Devanathan was also booked under Section 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code (defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class). His wife was also taken into custody for questioning, as were several of his relatives.
: Devanathan was a priest at the Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram, a significant religious site in Tamil Nadu. kanchipuram priest devanathan mms scandal free
The story garnered significant media attention at the time, with extensive coverage from India Today, The Times of India, The New Indian Express, and other publications.
His undoing came when his mobile phone developed a technical snag. Devanathan reportedly gave his phone to a shop for repairs. A technician at the shop downloaded the explicit content and subsequently leaked it. The explicit scenes quickly spread via MMS and the internet, becoming a public sensation in the town and even reaching foreign shores. The priest’s own attempt at documentation led directly to his downfall. The allegations that emerged against Devanathan in November
These are separate legal matters involving financial chit funds and corporate fraud, distinct from the 2009 Kanchipuram temple sex scandal. The emergence of these cases serves as a reminder that the name "Devanathan" in the context of crime in Tamil Nadu has a multifaceted history.
After the scandal broke, Devanathan went into hiding for nearly two months, fleeing with his wife Ganga and his two teenage daughters. He moved the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail, but his application was rejected. With his legal options exhausted, the priest surrendered before the Judicial Magistrate-I in Kancheepuram on November 16, 2009, and was remanded to judicial custody. His wife was also taken into custody for
The investigation revealed that Devanathan routinely alternated between conducting sacred rituals for waiting devotees and exploiting women inside the temple premises. Furthermore, victims came forward alleging that the priest used laced substances or blackmailed them using prerecorded phone footage to force cooperation. Legal Trajectory: Arrest, Charges, and Judicial Delays
Formal complaints filed by local victims resulted in additional counts under standard criminal statutes regarding forced sexual assault and extortion. 3. Trial Bottlenecks
Deceptive pop-ups requesting personal information or premium SMS subscriptions under the guise of "age verification."
(Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings by insulting religion or religious beliefs) Section 447 (Criminal trespass) Section 341 (Wrongful restraint) Section 294(b) (Uttering obscene words in a public place)