TNN

Karwar, Dec 1: Former Karnataka Sahitya Parishat president Harikrishna Punaroor, threatened to expose the misdeeds of Shiroor pontiff Sri Laxmivara Teertha Swamiji, if he did not retract the charges of forgery.

During an interaction with mediapersons in Mangalre on Thursday, the Shiroor pontiff hinted that his signature obtained on an appeal was forged. Punaroor in a press release on Friday, said Sri Pejawar swamiji had handed over to him eight copies of an appeal drafted by him.

He had taken a copy to the Shiroor Pontiff along with Pradeep Kumar Kalkura. After personally collecting the signature from the pontiff, they had returned the signed appeal to Paryaya Krishnapura Swamiji, he said.

"If the seer continues with his wicked ways, I will be compelled to expose his opulent lifestyle and other misdeeds which are unbecoming of an ascetic," Punaroor warned.

Pejawar mutt senior pontiff Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji and Dakshina Kannada KSP president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura in separate press releases declared the signature genuine, and that it was obtained with the full knowledge of Shiroor swamiji.

"The charges have surprised and depressed us," Pejawar swamiji and Kalkura confessed.