Priest L Sandeep to move court against Travancore Devaswom Board

ALAPPUZHA: L. Sandeep, the non-Brahmin priest of Sreekrishna Swamy Temple under suspension for one and a half months in connection with the disappearance of a holy pendant is taking the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to court. "They are trying to paint me as a thief while they promoted a Nair official on whose part the Vigilance found more lapses," he told DC.  "It’s their responsibility to ensure natural justice by providing charge-sheet. I received no official communication telling what my crime was. However, I have got a copy of the vigilance report. I doubt the delay was deliberate. I went to the assistant commissioner’s office multiple times seeking charge-sheet. Besides this, I went to TDB headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram a week ago and met its member Ajay Tharayil, and he promised to make it available soon.  But nothing happened so far. That’s why I decided to move the High Court."

While placing him under suspension on September 15, the TDB had retained then assistant commissioner - Ambalappuzha group Reghunathan Nair with a promotion as deputy commissioner. The TDB approved the suspension of head priest and AO for ‘serious lapses’ while the rest of two for ‘lapses’ but spared Mr Nair. In the report available with DC, Devaswom vigilance accuses Mr Nair not safekeeping the precious ornaments and giving a false statement.  However, it mentions only a “single line” charge against Mr Sandeep, his failure to report to the AO about the incident.  Despite DC trying to get in touch with TDB members and Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran, they did not respond.