Daijiworld Media Network - Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam, Oct 10: A 75-year-old temple priest has been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl inside a temple near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.

The incident reportedly took place last month at a temple in Thiruvalanchuzhi, a shrine under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. The accused, Viswanatha Iyer, who served as the temple's chief priest for several years, allegedly misbehaved with the girl when she visited the hundi (offertory box) area alone on September 8, 2025, while accompanying her family for darshan.

After a detailed inquiry, the police confirmed the allegations were true and arrested the priest under the relevant sections of

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