The case before the Madras High Court relating to the Sivagiri Estate, Tirunelveli, and the supposed riches of a Pandiya king became more curious on Tuesday with a deposition that the British government, before 1947, had deposited a huge sum of Pandiya funds in a trust account in Switzerland.
During the resumed hearing of the case before a Division Bench, comprising Justices P. Jyothimani and M. Duraiswamy, as ordered by the court on Monday, Commissioner of Land Administration Jatindra Nath Swain and Chennai Collector S. Jayandhi appeared before the court.
N. Jeganathan, who claimed to be a legal heir of Varaguna Pandia Chinna Thambiar, and his counsel V. Chockalingam were put in the witness box and their testimony recorded.
Counsel said a Swiss national, Guiseppe Leipoldo Cassina, who was said to be the holder of the Power of Attorney of Mr. Jeganathan, had told him that there was a huge sum in the foreign bank account and its secret number could not be revealed. He had promised to find out the actual assets of Varaguna Pandia Chinna Thambiar and bring the sum back to the country.
Quid pro quo
To the Bench’s question as to what the quid pro quo was, counsel said that Cassina, who died in a recent road accident, had agreed to receive five per cent of the amount after it was transferred. Mr. Chockalingam said that Cassina had told him that he was connected to Credit Suisse bank in Switzerland. He came to know Cassina in 2000 when the latter had come to Chennai to admit his daughter in an institution.
To a question, Mr. Chockalingam said he had received an e-mail from Cassina in July 2007 acknowledging that the Swiss bank was holding the Letter of Administration relating to the property.
In September the same year, the Centre directed the bank in Switzerland not to give the documents to anyone since they were under its control. He had made several sincere attempts to get back the LOA by sending e-mails to Cassina.
At one stage, Mr. Justice Jyothimani said: “We do not know whether there is any money in the Swiss bank or not. If it was true, the government should take action. This is a serious case.”
A list of 108 items of property stated to belong to the Sivagiri Estate has been submitted. In several cases, pattas had been issued. The Collector was also the custodian of the property. He should further assist the court in the matter. He should coordinate with the Archives Department. As per the Court of Wards Act, all the property should come to the government. Wherever it had been leased, the government should take action, if the lease amount had not been paid.
To a question, counsel said that he wanted the government to bring the amount back to India.
The Bench and other advocates grilled Mr. Jegannathan. For several questions, he pleaded ignorance. He said that if the sum was brought back from Switzerland to India, it would be the State’s glory.
He had not cheated the government. The Bench orally directed the Chennai Collector to interact with the Archives Department and inform the court about the estate’s property in Chennai. The matter has been adjourned to July 16.
