Police officers warned about pending FIR on temple demolition

Holding that it is clear from the report filed by the authorities that Arulmigu Bhaktha Markandeya temple has been completely encroached and the temple was demolished to give way for a multi-storied coffee shop, a special bench comprising Justice R Mahadevan and Justice P D Audikesavalu said “Though FIR was filed in 2014, it still remains in the same stage. No further investigation was carried out. Why have the police authorities been numb all these years?”

The court then directed the Deputy Superintendent of Police and Inspector of Tiruvannamalai Town Police to appear before the court to explain the inaction and observed that it would soon order the demolition of the coffee shop.

Noting that all such encroachments in the temples falling under the administration of Arunachaleswarar Temple should be removed, the bench directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) to file a report on such encroachments. 

The plea was moved by CM Sivababu, president of Tamil Desiya Makkal Katchi and a resident of Tiruvannamalai.

He had contended that in 2014, residents Venkatesan, Ramesh and seven others encroached upon the land adjacent to the temple and built a coffee shop. Thereafter, they removed the idols, artefacts, and other belongings of the temple including the presiding deity Markandeya, which possesses heritage value, before razing down the temple. Following a complaint to the HR&CE, the authorities in turn filed a case at the Thiruvannamalai Town Police station leading to the arrest of a few persons. But at present, the probe is still pending with the local police showing no interest in probing the case in a bid to safeguard the accused.

Also, noting that the idol of Markandeya was recovered from a well near the temple premises while desilting work done by local administration authorities, the petitioner wanted the court to intervene and transfer the probe to a central independent agency.