Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 3 (PTI) The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Thursday said it has appointed a Sabarimala sponsorship coordinator to prevent "illegal fundraising" in the name of the shrine.

The TDB, in an official release, said it had received reports of individuals from other states "illegally collecting sponsorship money" claiming to represent the Sabarimala Devaswom.

Also Read | India Weather Forecast: Monsoon in Active Phase, Heavy Rainfall to Continue in Most Parts of India for Almost Entire Week, Says IMD Scientist.

The Board clarified that it had not authorised anyone for such collections, making them illegal.

It has now appointed its Public Relations Officer, G S Arun, as the Sabarimala sponsorship coordinator, and its official photographer, P Vijayakumar, as the assistant sponsorship coordinator, it said.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Horror: Man Kills 5-Month Pregnant Wife in Kasganj Over 'Excess Salt' in Food.

The TDB said sponsorship donations can be made through the coordinators, the executive office at Sabarimala sannidhanam, or the TDB headquarters.

"Donations can also be made through the official website of the Travancore Devaswom Board. It is not responsible for any other collection of funds," the release added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)