After evading police for over a month, Devanathan surrendered before a judicial magistrate on November 16, 2009. The investigation, led by the Sivakanchi police, aimed to determine the extent of his actions.

The Kanchipuram Temple Scandal: Reappraising the Devanathan Case and Its Institutional Impact

In the middle of 2009, Devanathan's mobile phone stopped working. Without a second thought—forgetting the treasure trove of incriminating evidence stored in it—. The technician, while trying to fix the device, discovered multiple MMS clips.

The controversy erupted when a series of explicit video clips began circulating rapidly across mobile networks and local internet circles. The footage reportedly showed Devanathan, a married and highly respected temple archakar (priest), engaging in compromising positions with multiple women.

While Devanathan was the face of the crime, the police also pursued the mobile repair technicians who leaked the videos. The police team formed a special squad not only to nab the priest but also to arrest the accomplices who had turned the MMS clips into commercial pornography by burning them onto CDs for sale. "We are searching for the cellphone technician who was responsible for circulating the obscene videos," SP Prem Anand Sinha told India Today at the time.

Kanchipuram Priest Devanathan MMS Scandal: An Exclusive Look at the Temple Town Controversy

: In late 2009, Devanathan’s phone suffered a technical glitch. He left the device with a local mobile phone repair technician in Kanchipuram.

Following the public uproar, Tamil Nadu law enforcement officials registered formal complaints against the individual.

Following the public leak of the "MMS" clips, the Siva Kanchi police registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Police Inspector S. Pattabiram confirmed at the time that they were questioning witnesses and investigating the blackmail claims, leading to the transfer of the case diary and statement records to District Crime Branch (DCB) officials. The police sought to understand if the victims were regular visitors who were lured or coerced into these interactions. The Aftermath and Public Outrage

Temple authorities quickly initiated purificatory rituals (Samprokshanam) to restore the spiritual sanctity of the affected areas.

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