Mysuru: Seer’s custody extended – Prasada

Mysuru: The judicial custody of the junior seer of the Salur Math, Mahadevswamy  and three others accused of poisoning temple prasada served to devotees and killing 17 of them in Sulwadi has been extended  to May 3.

It was on December 14 last year that unsuspecting devotees consumed the poisoned prasada served to them at the Kichguth Maramma temple in Sulwadi, Chamarajnagar district. While 17 died, 104 fell ill, but eventually recovered. The temple itself remains closed.

With the Mysuru and Chamarajnagar district advocates' associations refusing  to appear for the accused, an advocate from Kodagu filed a bail plea for the junior seer, Mahadevswamy, which was rejected.  A Bengaluru lawyer has filed a bail petition for the other three accused and  a decision is expected on May 3 , according to Chamarajanagar public prosecutor, Lolakshi T.H. Meanwhile, the temple, which was taken over by the Muzrai department soon after the incident, has now been officially transferred to it by a government order. But a decision on reopening it has not yet been taken, says Chamarajnagar DC, B B Cauvery.

Meanwhile, a fresh controversy has broken out over the temple with DCF Yedukondalu V of the Male Mahadeswara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, claiming it has encroached on forest land, " So we have written to the working plan wing of forest department to conduct a survey. If it is proved that the land has been encroached on, it will be taken into custody," he said.