The computer network of the historic Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple has been hacked, prompting an official police investigation. The breach, discovered earlier this month, led to significant disruptions within the temple’s digital systems, including altered files and blocked administrative access.
The City Cyber Police registered a case following a complaint lodged by temple executive officer B. Mahesh. Authorities are now probing whether the attack was an attempt at financial fraud, sabotage, or aimed at accessing sensitive temple data. While the extent of the data leak remains unclear, officials confirmed that temple programmes and files were tampered with during the intrusion.
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Suspicion Falls on Former IT Employee
Investigators suspect the involvement of a former temporary employee who worked in the temple’s IT section. He was transferred months ago after concerns were raised about his activities. Despite the transfer, the individual allegedly continued to access the temple’s computer systems remotely. According to the complaint, he extracted data from senior officials’ systems and locked out multiple administrators from the network.
Temple officials reported that the breach coincided with internal disputes within the administration. A group of employees, reportedly linked to a leader of an external organisation, had previously attempted to pressure senior officials. These tensions grew in parallel with calls for an open inspection of the temple’s controversial B vault.
The temple administration later engaged an independent expert to assess the system. The review confirmed unauthorized access, manipulation of files, and security breaches across several devices. Based on these findings, the temple filed a formal police complaint, leading to the registration of the case.
Police Probe Underway Amid Security Concerns
Authorities are investigating whether the hack affected the temple’s financial transactions or online security mechanisms. Officials have not ruled out the possibility that sensitive data was compromised or misused.
ASP-level officers of the Cyber Police are monitoring the inquiry, while digital forensic teams are reviewing server logs and access trails to determine the scale of the breach. Police also noted that earlier complaints regarding internal disputes had not been acted upon, raising concerns about overlooked security risks.
The incident highlights growing vulnerabilities in the digital infrastructure of major religious institutions in India, where heritage, financial resources, and administrative records are increasingly maintained through online systems.