HRM and CE department revealed that Podhu Dikshidar had sold Sabnayagar temple land, Madras High Court said.

The Madras High Court has expressed prima facie satisfaction of the allegation that Podhu Dixitdar of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department sold immovable property of the Chidambaram Sabnayagar temple.

A special division bench of Justices R Suresh Kumar and S Saunthar, constituted to hear temple-related cases, said the HRD and CE department had accused Podhu Dixitdar, who manages the Sabnayagar temple, of selling several properties.

However, the secretary of the Podhu Dikshidar Committee responded by refuting the allegations. He claimed that the disputed lands were actually self-acquired property of Podhu Dikshidar, who had sold his property to a third party.

On the contrary, Special Public Prosecutor (HR&CE) NRR Arun Natarajan brought to the court’s notice two sale documents by Vembu Dikshidar selling various parcels of land at Chojatharam village in Cuddalore district to a person named Sriramulu Naidu. Year 1974.

On perusal of the sale details, the judges found that Vembu Dikshidar had sold the land on the basis of a will issued by a woman named Sivasanmugasundari who had given sole ownership rights in respect of two temple properties. .

The bench also said that the patta (revenue document related to ownership of land) in respect of those lands is in the name of Sabnayagar temple and it has been revealed that the land of the temple was sold to a third party under the pretext of some right. or will be proliferated by a third party.”

The judges said: “Therefore, this is an illustration from which we can trace the initial sale of the Sabnayagar temple land by members of the Podhu Dikshits. If not 1,000 or 2,000 acres of land, at least 20 acres of land now, for which the HRD and CE department has brought the necessary documents to the court and exposed such transactions.”

The Division Bench has given liberty to the Department to inquire with the Registration Department and to come out with additional material relating to such transactions. Podhudikshidar committee has been given time till 23rd of January to come up with a plan to calculate the amount collected from the devotees through Dakshina.