Idol Theft Case: TN Govt Defends Ancient Idol's Existence Before SC In Challenge To FIR Quashing Against Tata Sons' Venu Srinivasan

The Supreme Court today heard a batch of petitions challenging the Madras High Court's February 2024 decision to quash the First Information Report (FIR) against Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor Company and a board member of Tata Sons, in a case concerning allegations of theft and unauthorised replacement of an antique idol at Chennai's Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple in 2004.

One of the pleas has been filed by temple activist Rangarajan Narasimhan, who has sought to set aside the high court's decision.

During today's hearing before the bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M. Pancholi, Additional Advocate General for Tamil Nadu Prashanto Chandra advanced submissions on behalf of the State. His arguments centred on a resolution allegedly passed ahead of the temple's Kumbhabhishekam (consecration ceremony) on August 30, 2004, which, according to the State, indicated that the idol had been replaced before the ceremony.

The State's submissions addressed the dispute over the original idol, which allegedly depicted a peacock holding a flower in its beak. The State contended that an idol had been present before the alleged theft, in response to the contention that no idol depicting a peacock holding a flower was present at the temple.

The Court has posted the matter for further hearing on October 29, 2026, at 2 PM.

The Peacock Idol

The case concerns allegations that an antique peacock idol at the Punnaivananathar Sannidhi of Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple was removed during renovation work in 2004 and replaced with an apparently identical idol depicting the bird holding a snake in its beak instead of a flower.

In August 2018, temple activist Narasimhan initiated legal proceedings alleging irregularities in connection with the idol and the conduct of temple officials appointed under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department of the Tamil Nadu government.

Following the complaint, the Idol Wing of the Tamil Nadu Police initiated an investigation and questioned officials associated with the HR&CE Department. Srinivasan, who was part of a government-constituted committee overseeing the temple's renovation at the time, was also named in the criminal case.

The police registered an FIR in 2018. In 2022, the Idol Wing filed a final report naming Srinivasan and others in the case. Srinivasan subsequently approached the Madras High Court, seeking to quash the criminal proceedings against him.

On February 16, 2024, the high court allowed his plea and quashed the FIR against him. Narasimhan challenged the decision before the Supreme Court, seeking its reversal.

As per reports, Srinivasan has denied involvement in the alleged theft and maintained that he was not responsible for the temple's day-to-day administration. He has also stated that he contributed Rs 70 lakh from his personal funds towards the temple's restoration.

Case Title: M. Muthiah Sthapathy v. State of Tamil Nadu & Anr. and Connected Matters

Hearing Date: October 14, 2026

Bench: Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M. Pancholi