The 292nd pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam, Sri Arunagirinatha Gnanasambanda Desikar, filed an affidavit in the Madras High Court Bench here on Thursday refuting allegations that he was under the illegal custody of Nithyananda of Bidadi in Karnataka.
Filing the affidavit in reply to a habeas corpus petition filed by T. Gurusamy Desikar (80), manager of Dharmapuram Mutt here, the pontiff stated that the case had been filed with “imaginary information without verifying essential facts and actual truth.”
The affidavit, filed through his counsel Veera Kathiravan, stated that the petitioner had no locus standi to file such a case and that it was a clear abuse of process of law. It also accused the habeas corpus petitioner of filing the case with the intention of gaining publicity.
“I have been meeting the devotees every day at my Madurai Aadheenam. I also met all the general public and press people and gave a public statement on May 2 in Madurai in order to clear all unwarranted rumours… But the conduct of the petitioner is insulting, scandalous and motivated by malice.
“The petitioner herein is not known to me and he has filed this petition only with the intention of belittling me and the image of my Madurai Aadheenam in the eyes of the public.
I am fully eligible, empowered and competent to manage, administer and appoint my successor for Madurai Aadheenam.”
The pontiff also stated that he had no plans to go abroad as claimed by the petitioner. “The imputations made by the petitioner have brought disgrace and humiliation to the entire Madurai Aadheenam and its devotees. I reserve my right to proceed against the petitioner as per the provisions of both the civil and criminal law,” he added.
A Division Bench comprising Justice M. Sathyanarayanan and Justice D. Hariparanthaman adjourned the hearing to Friday and ordered the High Court Registry to post the case along with a public interest litigation petition filed by M. Solaikannan of Hindu People's Party.
The PIL petition, filed through advocate W. Peter Ramesh Kumar, alleged that Nithyananda had managed to get himself appointed as the 293rd pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam by taking Gnanasambanda Desikar under his illegal custody with the muscle power of “henchmen” brought from Karnataka.
He wanted the Court to direct the State government to take control of the Aadheenam by appointing a committee headed by a retired High Court judge.
He also sought police protection for the ongoing Chithirai festival in Madurai apprehending some kind of disturbances to Nithayananda's supporters.
