I M Balaraman, a devotee of the Gajavaradaraja Perumal temple in Nallappa Variyar street, Washpermanpet, submitted a petition to City Police Commissioner S George seeking to act against the present temple trustees who had sold the temple which remains shut for 60 years, during the grievances redressal at the City Police Commissionerate.
The petition also sought measures to allow Dalits residing in the neighbourhood of the temple, to offer worship there.
Balaraman claimed that the temple was about 300 years old and occupies about 8.5 grounds (20,400 sq ft) of land. “The entire property could be worth `40 crore or so. A trio of self-proclaimed trustees of the temple has closed down the temple for 60 years claiming that the temple is theirs. They further forged the documents required and sold the land in parts. Some say that the temple may get demolished,” Balaraman told Express.
He further said that the temple belongs to Ahobila Matam, a Vaishanava religious organisation. The temple’s land was reportedly donated by a man called Haripurandaradas, according to a stone tablet from the temple. It was clearly mentioned in the engravings that the property cannot be sold for any reason.
Also, Balaraman claimed that several idols, including a 4-ft ‘unique’ idol where Perumal blesses an elephant, were stolen from the temple. “We started the Gajavaradaraja Aalaya Meetpu Kuzhu (Gajavaradharaja Temple Rescue Team), which aims at returning the temple to the control of Ahobila Matam as well as persuade Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to look into the matter.
