Tamil Nadu: YouTuber Karthick Gopinath Arrested For Collecting Funds For Temple Renovation Without Permission

The issue came to light after one of the executive officers of the temple in Siruvachur near Perambalur gave a complaint against the accused.

A man with handcuffs (Image for representation/Pixabay)

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Chennai: A YouTuber with right-wing viewers was arrested for raising funds online for renovating temples owned by the Tamil Nadu government without permission of concerned officers in Chennai on Monday. Using the reason, the YouTuber had collected several lakhs of funds online through Milaap and also through his bank account. 

The issue came to light after one of the executive officers of the temple in Siruvachur near Perambalur gave a complaint against the accused. The complainant also alleged that the accused used the amount for his own purpose.

According to a report on Indian Express, the accused identified as Karthick Gopinath (32) reportedly started to collect funds for repairing and renovating temples damaged by miscreants. 

The Avadi police said, Gopinath allegedly opened a YouTube channel in the name of Ilaya Bharatham and told people to contribute money through Milaap, a fundraising site, for renovating sub-temples of Arulmigu Madhura Kaliamman temple. However, the work was carried out with the permission of HR&CE department. 

Till now, the page created by Gopinath on Milaap shows that the accused had collected Rs 33.28 lakh in the name of Siruvachur temple resurrection. The appeal also said, the vandalism was done for discouraging the Hindu way of life and to dampen the spirit of temple goes.

Hence, let's join hands to rebuild the temples and rejuvenate the theist spirit of local community and for dharma, the report quoted the appeal.

Meanwhile, BJP chief Annamalai also condemned the arrest of Gopinath.