Evidence Points to Funneling Of Hindu Temple Funds

November 19, 2009

Author: Andria Simmons

Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/evidence-points-to-funneling-205660.html

With his Hindu temple teetering on the verge of foreclosure, the Internal Revenue Service investigating potential tax evasion and his U.S. residency status in doubt, the empire of a self-proclaimed guru in Norcross may be crumbling around his ears.

Evidence presented at a bankruptcy hearing Thursday indicated that Annamalai Annamalai, who goes by the title Dr. Commander Selvam, has been funneling profits from his temple on Brook Hollow Parkway in Norcross into other business entities he controls. A trustee appointed to investigate the finances of the Hindu Temple of Georgia earlier this month found evidence that he has used temple funds as a personal piggy bank. Financial records show Annamalai has used temple funds for mortgage payments on his million-dollar mansion in Duluth, loan payments on personal Lexus and Mercedes vehicles, and credit card payments, said David Crumpton, an accountant and certified fraud examiner employed by the trustee to help unravel the temple's finances.