“Accidental donation”: Temple refuses to return man’s iPhone

 

A fellow worshipping at a temple in Tamil Nadu, India accidentally dropped his iPhone into the donation box.

When he asked officials at the Arulmigu Kandaswamy temple to return the phone, they politely refused.

Eventually, his plea was heard by PK Sekar Babu, minister of the state of Karnataka.

“As per the practices and traditions of temples, offerings made in the donation box are considered the property of the deity,” the minister was quoted to have said.

“Rules do not allow us to return such offerings,” he said.

According to India Today. “a senior HR & CE official said that, as per the Installation, Safeguarding, and Accounting of Hundial Rules, 1975, items deposited in the donation box cannot be returned, as they are deemed temple property.”