Embattled head of Sosale Mutt to step down

Vidyamanohara Teertha, the head of Sosale Vyasaraj Mutt, has finally agreed to step down.

In an affidavit before the Second Additional Civil Court on Friday, he said he had no objection to the appointment of D Prahaladacharya as the head of Sosale Vyasaraj Mutt. He also informed the court that Pushkaracharya will be the successor of Prahaladacharya.

Judge Ashwini Hattiholi adjourned the hearing until Saturday.

Vidyamanohara Teertha, his mother Srimathi and his disciple Pramod were arrested in 2015 over the theft of the silver chariot. In 2011, Vidyamanohara had been arrested by the Andhra Pradesh police in a cheque-bounce case. In 2012, a devotee moved the high court alleging a multi-crore scam in the mutt administration, which has 53 branches across India, including in T Narsipur and in Mysuru.

On the court’s directions, the government formed a management committee to investigate the case. The committed validated most of the allegations, prompting the government to supersede the mutt’s management and appoint an administrator to it.