SALEM: Police officers from Kerala came to Salem looking for a Kashi mutt pontiff, Ragavendra Theertha Swamigal, on Thursday.
The present disciple of Kashi mutt, Srimath Sudheendra Theertha Swamigal, has recently filed a petition in Kerala High Court against the former disciple, Ragavendra Theertha Swamigal. The petitioner has appealed to the Court to execute a decree in connection with a theft case that is pending before the court since 2011.
“Ragavendra Theertha Swamigal went missing, along with valuables belonging to Kashi mutt, two years ago. A case was registered by Ernakulam police in this regard. There was another case pending against him in Tirupathi Additional District Court in Andhra Pradesh. Kashi mutt has assets at more than 36 places across the country. Ragavendra Theertha Swamigal was the former disciple of the mutt and while leaving the mutt, he allegedly stole valuables,” Dharanidaran, sub-inspector of Ernakulam Central police station, told mediapersons.
The Tirupathi Additional District Court ordered that all the articles be returned a few months ago. Similarly, a non-bailable warrant was issued by the Judicial Magistrate of Aluva court against Ragevendra Theertha Swamigal.
Meanwhile, based on directions from the Kerala High Court, Ernakulam Central police registered a fresh case against the pontiff.
“We suspect that the pontiff could be in Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh. We appeal to the public to call on mobile number 09497980427 if they have any information regarding him,” added the SI.