Two men from Andhra Pradesh were held for reportedly taking photographs of the sanctum sanctorum inside Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai on Saturday, using micro camera-fitted spectacles.
Temple officials said that the incident was the second one in less than a month after two youths from Telangana were held on August 8 for reportedly taking photographs inside the temple, also using micro camera-fitted spectacles.
The police said the identified persons were S. Akil Kumar, 23, and R. Venkata Reddy, 25. The duo was waiting in the queue to offer prayers at the temple when light flashed from Kumar’s spectacles. Immediately, other devotees saw the flash and alerted temple staff, who in turn informed senior officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department.
The police said signages were installed to warn devotees against taking photographs and videos inside the temple. Tiruvannamalai Town police registered a case. Later, they were released on conditional bail. A probe is under way.
According to reports, the two men admitted they intended to use the footage for creating reels and social media content. Police confiscated the smart glasses, equipped with AI-powered micro cameras, as part of the investigation.
Follow Dharmic News for more updates on temple affairs and Hindu community issues.
