KOCHI:The Tirupati Crime Investigation Department has found that Swami Raghavendra Thirtha, who is still absconding, misappropriated Rs 69.49 lakh of Kashi Math, Tirumala branch in collusion with his associates and cheated the math samsthan.
The police will file a report before the Kerala High Court opposing the anticipatory bail plea of Nanda Kumara Prabhu, tenth accused in the misappropriation case, on August 31.
According to the police report, the criminal breach of trust, cheating and misappropriation of Kashi Math, Tirumala, money occurred between March 21, 2013 and February 19, 2014. The CID, Hyderabad registered the case on October 8, 2014 on a complaint filed by K Narayana Shenoy, joint secretary of Tirumala Sri Kashi Math. Raghavendra Thirtha, who is the first accused in the case, with the assistance of his followers, purchased properties in Kerala and other states using the money diverted from Tirumala Kasi Math and collected Kanikas posing as Matathipathi of Kashi Math Samsthan. He also violated the norms of the Math Samsthan and spoiled the holiness of the Samsthan. The police arraigned eight others as accused along with Swami and the petitioner.
The charges levelled against them are under Sections 403 (Dishonest misappropriation of property), 406 ( criminal breach of trust) and 420 (Cheating) of IPC.