Mutt land transfer to accused rasies eyebrows

The khata of a plot measuring 2.44 acres, belonging to Salur Mutt, has been transferred to the name of Immadi Mahadevaswamy, prime accused in the Sulwadi Maramma temple prasada poisoning case.

Mahadevaswamy and his two accomplices were arrested for poisoning the prasada served to the devotees at Maramma temple in Sulwadi village, Hanur taluk, in December. Hundreds took ill, while 17 people died after consuming the poisoned food.

The 2.44 acres is on survey number 203 at Linganapura village, under Kasaba hobli of Kollegal taluk. The khata of the land has been transferred in the name of Mahadevaswamy. The tahsildar’s office in Kollegal issued the documents of land records (pahani) on May 3.

The high school, run by Salur Mutt, is functioning on the land in question. A person named Mahadeva Prabhu had registered the land in the name of Mahadevaswamy, who was then secretary of Sri Male Mahadeshwara Krupa Vidya Samsthe, in 1997.

This came to light when social activist Dasharath of Kollegal availed information under RTI Act. Though the land was registered in 1997, the property had not undergone the mutation process. Mahadevaswamy had applied for khata transfer last year, it is said. The tahsildar had written a letter to the Kollegal assistant commissioner in January in this connection.

Dasharath said the officials had connived with the seer in the issue. "How could they issue the documents to a person who is accused in the death of 17 innocent people?" he said.

When contacted, tahsildar Anandaiah said he was not aware of the documents issued and that he would verify it.