Puttur MLA and Temple Trustee Booked for Trespassing on Court-Controlled Property
The Puttur Town Police have registered a criminal case against Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai and Ishwarbhat Panjigudde, the managing trustee of the Mahalingeshwara temple, for trespassing on property under the control of the Bantwal Court. The complaint, filed by court-appointed receiver Aravind Rao Kedige, alleges that the accused used an earth mover to demolish two century-old buildings on the disputed 9.79-acre land on April 14, 2026. This land is subject to a partition suit pending since 2018. The complainant estimates the damage at over ₹2 crore and seeks action for violating court orders. In defense, MLA Rai claimed the demolition was necessary to widen a narrow road used annually by over 40,000 devotees during the Ullalti ‘bhoota’ ritual, aiming to prevent potential stampedes. He asserted the action was taken for public safety and expressed readiness to face legal consequences. The police registered the case under Sections 329(3) and 324(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on legal advice. This incident highlights a conflict between local political figures, religious traditions, and judicial authority regarding property rights and public safety measures in the region.
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Puttur MLA and Temple Trustee Booked for Trespassing on Court-Controlled Property
The Puttur Town Police have registered a criminal case against Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai and Ishwarbhat Panjigudde, the managing trustee of the Mahalingeshwara temple, for trespassing on property under the control of the Bantwal Court. The complaint, filed by court-appointed receiver Aravind Rao Kedige, alleges that the accused used an earth mover to demolish two century-old buildings on the disputed 9.79-acre land on April 14, 2026. This land is subject to a partition suit pending since 2018. The complainant estimates the damage at over ₹2 crore and seeks action for violating court orders. In defense, MLA Rai claimed the demolition was necessary to widen a narrow road used annually by over 40,000 devotees during the Ullalti ‘bhoota’ ritual, aiming to prevent potential stampedes. He asserted the action was taken for public safety and expressed readiness to face legal consequences. The police registered the case under Sections 329(3) and 324(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on legal advice. This incident highlights a conflict between local political figures, religious traditions, and judicial authority regarding property rights and public safety measures in the region.
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