Police said the bride’s father Hemasabesa Deekshitar and the groom’s father Venkatesa Deekshitar were arrested based on a complaint. The girl was about 13 years old at the time of the alleged wedding
Chennai: Two deekshithars (priests) attached to the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple in Tamil Nadu were arrested Saturday and later sent to remand in connection with the alleged wedding of their minor children, the police said. The Cuddalore all-women police station (AWPS) has registered a case under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
According to officers, the bride’s father Hemasabesa Deekshitar and the groom’s father Venkatesa Deekshitar were arrested based on a complaint from the social welfare department. Following the arrests, a group of priests and their families staged a protest in Chidambaram and were detained by the police.
The police said the marriage was allegedly held in Chidambaram town last year and the minor girl was about 13 years old and the groom was about 17 years old at the time. An officer associated with the investigation. “The marriage was held on January 25, 2021 at about 04.30 am at a wedding hall. We had gathered those reports and we made the arrests based on the complaint.”
The accused are currently lodged in Chidambaram sub-jail. “As of now, the groom is also a victim. We are awaiting the reports. After that we will initiate legal proceedings,” the officer added. He said the sections charged would be altered to those under the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act based on the girl’s medical test reports.
The first international concert from abroad in 2026 and the 2nd consecutive year of the monthly Carnatic Music concert series of the International Chamber, Parakkadathu Koyickal Trust, Tripunithura, Kerala, have been hosted from OHIO, U.S.A. Vocal Sangeetha Vidushi Ms. Dhivya Senthil Murugan, Violinist Ms. Medha Lalyt Iyer, and Mridangam Vidwan Sri Lalit Subramanian have accompanied on 13-02-2026 from OHIO, USA.
March 22, 2026
SRUTHI MATHAA… LAYA PITHAA… The International Chamber for Indian Music & Culture, an international initiative of Parakkadathu Koyickal Trust, Tripunithura, Kerala, has hosted the 2nd
