Chilkur Balaji Temple head priest CS Rangarajan attacked at home, one held
They attacked him in their house at Chilkur, adjacent to the Chilkur Balaji Temple premises on February 7
By Sistla Dakshina Murthy Published on 9 Feb 2025 4:53 PM IST
Chilkur Balaji Temple Head Priest CS Rangarajan (File Photo)
Hyderabad: The Temples Protection Movement convener Dr MV Soundararajan has filed a complaint with the police alleging that unidentified individuals attacked Chilkur Balaji Temple head priest CS Rangarajan at his house in Moinabad Mandal, Ranga Reddy district, on February 7.
Soundararajan said the individuals manhandled his son Rangarajan, who is also Archaka of the Chilkur Balaji deity. They attacked him in their house at Chilkur, adjacent to the Chilkur Balaji Temple premises on February 7 and left the place after threatening him. Rangarajan suffered internal injuries and underwent treatment at a private hospital.
A video of the incident circulating on social media shows the priest surrounded by several individuals dressed in black allegedly pressurising him to recruit people for their āSainyamā and provide financial support for their activities.
On Sunday, the Moinabad police said that they had arrested the prime accused Veera Raghava Reddy, a native of Andhra Pradesh and was further sent to Chanchalguda Jail. Efforts are underway to arrest the remaining individuals involved in the attack on Rangarajan.
Motive behind attack
In a press statement issued here, Soundararajan said, āAround 20 individuals, including women proclaimed themselves as the descendants of the Ikshwaku clan and want to form Rama Rajya by Ugadi, the upcoming Hindu new year. For their plan, they created private armies to punish people who did not accept their mission or agenda and did not understand the concept of Constitutional Rama Rajya. My son declined to get associated with them. During the altercation, Rangarajan's son was also injured while attempting to intervene."
āA complaint has been filed by my son and the Moinabad police are investigating the matter. We have requested the police to go deep into this matter and identify the elements who are supporting them directly and indirectly. By divine grace of Chilkur Balaji deity my son is safe and continuing our family service to the deity,ā Soundararajan said.
Upon knowing about the incident, Union Minister of state for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar spoke Rangarajan over phone to check on his well-being after the recent attack.
On February 2, Rangarajan visited the historic dargah of Hazrat Shaik Ji Hali in Old City and celebrated the Basant Panchami with minorities. He also appreciated the efforts of Muzaffar Ali Soofi Chisti, the custodian of Hazrat Shaik Ji Hali dargah for reviving this tradition in South India, especially in these times of severe friction among communities over volatile issues.
