Kanchipuram Priest Devanathan Mms Scandal [2021] Free

A 30-year-old local woman stepped forward to file a complaint, stating that Devanathan had drugged her, recorded the encounter without her consent, and used the footage to blackmail her into repeated sexual compliance.

The scandal broke after an editor of a Tamil magazine obtained evidence and alerted the local authorities.

In 2003, a series of video clips—then circulated via MMS and CDs—purportedly showed Devanathan, a prominent priest, engaging in sexual acts with various women inside the temple premises. The scandal sparked widespread outrage, leading to violent protests in Kanchipuram and calls for stricter oversight of temple administration. Legal Proceedings and Arrest kanchipuram priest devanathan mms scandal free

The legal wrangling did not end there. The police sought custody for further interrogation. The magistrate initially granted only two days of police custody and rejected a plea for an extension of five days. The state public prosecutor then appealed to the Madras High Court, arguing that no useful materials could be collected in such a short time. Justice C.T. Selvam granted the police three days of custody, overruling the magistrate's order.

Following Malar's revelations, the police added rape charges to the case, and the investigation was transferred from the local police force to the district crime branch. A 30-year-old local woman stepped forward to file

The public exposure of the videos prompted the to launch an immediate investigation. The details revealed a highly disturbing pattern of blackmail and coercion:

: In 2010, a trial court in Chengalpattu convicted Devanathan, sentencing him to multiple years of rigorous imprisonment. High Court Appeal The scandal sparked widespread outrage, leading to violent

Public outrage was amplified because the recordings clearly showed the acts occurring in areas reserved strictly for sacred rituals.

: As of February 2018, the case was noted for its slow progress (often described as "dragging on") in the Chengalpattu Mahila Court, with delays attributed to the absence of defense counsel and slow cross-examination of witnesses.

Following the leak, Devanathan went into hiding, successfully evading capture for about a month. He surrendered in a local court on November 16, 2009, and was remanded to judicial custody. Beyond criminal proceedings, Devanathan's family faced significant hardship: his wife and minor daughters were reportedly excommunicated from their community, and the children were expelled from their private school due to the stigma.

S. Devanathan was a 35 or 36-year-old priest (depending on the source) and a father of two teenage daughters. He hailed from Pazhaiya Seevaram village near Walajabad, about 20 kilometers from Kancheepuram, and was entrusted with the sacred duty of performing pujas in one of the town’s oldest temples. According to police reports, he was described as a man who used his position of religious authority to ensnare vulnerable female devotees. He allegedly targeted women who came alone, and within a few days of meeting them, would succeed in his attempts to seduce them. The women who fell for his charm reportedly received preference over others waiting in line for puja.