Padmanabha Swamy temple petitioner gets eviction notice

The temple management has asked the former temple head, who moved court seeking transparency in running the shrine, to vacate the temple premises

Padmanabha Swamy temple petitioner gets eviction notice

The temple management has asked the former temple head, who moved court seeking transparency in running the shrine, to vacate the temple premises

u00a0
The man behind the expos ufffd of the accumulated treasure worth Rs 1 lakh crore at the Shree Padmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram has been sent eviction orders by the temple administration.

T P Sundarajan, the former temple head, had petitioned at the High Court alleging mismanagement of the temple treasure by the Royal family in 2009.

Following this, the former Royals approached the Supreme Court in the case, and in turn a seven-member committee to investigate and submit a report on the same. Even as the day for the SC hearing draws near, the temple administration has shot off an eviction order to the petitioner.

The temple administration sent the former temple head eviction orders from the sub-court at Trivandrum, where a suit was filed against him, but Sundarajan claims that he has received no such order.

Money matters?
Temple Executive Officer V K Harikumar from the West Nada (entrance) said that the temple has not received any payment from the former temple head in the past three years and that earlier notice to him was ignored.

"The temple authority has not received any arrears from Sundarajan for the last three years and no reply has come regarding our earlier notice. We have been forced to send fresh eviction orders," said Harikumar.

The temple administration added that if the petitioner clears all dues, they would consider letting him continue living on the premises.

Ignorance is bliss
Maintaining that he has received no such eviction orders, Sundarajan rubbished the claims made by the temple administration and criticised their statement.

Speaking exclusively to MiD DAY, he said, "Our family came here in 1977 when my brother was General Manager of the Indian Bank. We took this property with assistance of a loan and now the temple administration has started this campaign against me since I approached the court. If I have not paid for so many years, why are they approaching me now? They could have taken action against me long ago."

Security tightened
Police security has been further stepped up around the already cordoned off area fearing an attack on the petitioner's house following this eviction order.

ADGP K Venugopal Nair said, "We are planning to provide additional security around Sundarajan's house within the temple premises. There is already enough security in place around the temple, but with the court hearing approaching, we will make sure no untoward situation takes place."

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels