Temple, Texas sued for $1M for branding 11-year-old

An Indian-origin man has filed a lawsuit against a Hindu temple in the United States and its parent organization, seeking more than $1 million in damages after his 11-year-old son was branded with a hot iron rod during a religious ceremony last year. The 11-year-old boy was branded with hot rods in the shape of the Hindu god Vishnu in two places on his shoulders.

The incident, which occurred in August at the Sri Ashtar Lakshmi Hindu Temple in Sugar Land, Texas, left the boy in excruciating pain and permanently disfigured.

Vijay Cheruvu, who lives in Fort Bend County, Texas, spoke about the incident at a news conference, expressing shock and concern for his son’s health.

“I am shocked. I don’t know how to handle it. My biggest concern is my son’s health,” Cheruvu told a press conference, PTI reported. “

Cheruvu is seeking more than $1 million in damages from the temple and its parent organization, Jeeyar Educational Trust (JET) USA Inc., according to the lawsuit filed in Fort Bend County.

Boy branded without father’s consent

At the Sri Ashtalakshmi temple ceremony, there were more than 100 participants, including three children, one of whom was Cheruvu’s son.

The boy was branded with a hot iron rod without his father’s knowledge or consent and against his will. Cheruvu’s ex-wife took the boy to the temple.

Cheruvu’s attorney, Brent Stogner, noted that it is illegal in Texas to brand, tattoo or scar a child, even if the parents consent.

He also noted that the boy experienced severe pain, permanent disfigurement, and developed infections from the branding.

The child, whose identity is being kept secret, described his experience in a statement, expressing surprise and distress to the brand.

“I was surprised. I had no idea something like this could happen. When they did that on my shoulder I was shocked, it hurt so much I almost cried. They knew what they were doing was very wrong , as they told “I keep it secret from other people. But when the pain got worse and it got infected, I had to tell my dad,” the boy said.

Cheruvu said his ex-wife took their son to the temple, but she was not branded.

“He went to see a therapist. He was deeply scarred, mentally scarred, and then there was all the pain,” the father said.

Although attempts were made to contact the temple for comment, neither calls nor emails were responded to, PTI reported.