BENGALURU: Two weeks before he died under mysterious circumstances, Lakshmivara Theertha seer of Shiroor Mutt in Udupi seemed to have been facing a financial crisis and was allegedly trying to sell his property, a shopping complex, in Manipal.
Those privy to the developments told TNIE that the seer had been trying hard to sell ‘Shiroor Towers’, which houses a shopping mall. The building, spread across around 12 acres in an upscale location in Manipal, was generating ample revenue.
One of the close of aides of Lakshmivara Theertha seer, who is also an astrologer by profession, is said to have contacted a certain Prajwal Rai, a real estate agent, and Kishore Kalladka, nearly two weeks before the seer’s death. Prajwal Rai is the prime accused in Jaleel Karopady murder case and is currently out on bail.
Lakshmivara Theertha’s advocate Ravikiran Murudeshwar said that he was not aware of the property negotiations but confirmed that the seer was struggling with a financial burden, over a loan he had taken to construct another multi-storeyed building in Manipal.
Prajwal said that “a close aide of the seer”, whose name he does not remember, had contacted him for help in trying to sell the property. Prajwal said that he was given documents that ran into 400 pages, which included property details and rental agreements of shopping malls housed in the complex.
The seer is said to have quoted Rs 180 crore as his price and added that it was very much negotiable. Prajwal told this correspondent that the documents had changed hands and had also reached Bengaluru. The agents at the capital city are now zeroing in on potential customers and the death of the seer has come as big shocker. He also said that the deal is still on.
“Some people close to the seer have told the agents in Bengaluru (who are Prajwal’s friends) that the negotiations can continue and could be finalised after two months,” said Kishore.
Advocate Ravikiran said he had no knowledge about this deal. However, he said, there is a possibility that the seer may have entered into such a deal as he had debt to pay. The seer was building a multi-storeyed building named Kanaka at Kalsanka in Manipal for which he had borrowed a huge loan. Ravikumar said,
“I was told by the seer that he had paid `10 crore interest on a bank loan and that he wanted to clear the loan as soon as possible.” This could indicate that he wanted to sell off the property to clear the loan.
Srikanth K, the Investigating Officer in the Shiroor seer’s death, told TNIE he did not know that the seer had been negotiating to sell his shopping complex in Manipal.