In a new twist to the ongoing litigation over a ‘missing’ ancient Maragadha Lingam (Emerald Shiva Lingam), which was reportedly kept in the safe custody of the Madurai Corporation in 2009, the civic body’s chief Nanthagopal on Friday told the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) there is no record of the very existence of the antiquated Lingam.
Madurai Corporation Commissioner Nanthangopal, who was on Thursday summoned to appear in the court to explain about the ‘missing’ Lingam, said that he had formed a committee comprising of top officials to locate the Lingam. However, there were no records to substantiate that the Lingam was given to the Corporation for safekeeping in its treasury. Only a scrutiny of records would reveal more about this, he said.
Nanthagopal’s statements prompted Justice N Kirubakaran to ask the lawyers and others present in the court hall if they had seen the Lingam before 2009.
An advocate, Maharajan submitted that his marriage was conducted in the Kunnathur Chatram in 1983 and he used to worship the Lingam.
Recording the submissions, the judge suo motu impleaded the Joint Secretary of the HR&CE Department as a party to the litigation and sought a report from him on the status of the antiquated Lingam.