Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur
Puttur, Feb 7: During an inspection conducted by the police on Thursday afternoon at the site of a demolished house in the premises of Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple, 40 grams of gold was discovered. The house belonged to BJP leader and former MLC Rajesh Bannur, whose residence was removed as part of a land dispute.
Rajesh Bannur had earlier lodged a complaint with the police, stating that valuables, including gold and cash, were inside the demolished house. Acting on this, officers from the city police station conducted a search operation using a JCB in the presence of Rajesh Bannur. Upon discovery, the authenticity of the gold was verified by a jeweller before it was taken into custody after official documentation.
The Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple Protection Committee has submitted a petition to the city police station, urging that no case be registered against the temple management committee. They asserted that the temple land should remain under its rightful authority and that unauthorized occupation was not acceptable. The committee members, including Hariprasad Shetty Nellikatte and Balachandra Sorake, emphasized that the current temple administration is working in accordance with devotees' wishes and requested that Rajesh Bannur’s complaint against the management not be considered.
Based on a complaint filed by the temple's executive officer, K V Srinivas, a case has been registered at Puttur town police station against Rajesh Bannur and nine others. The complaint alleges that on Wednesday morning, Bannur and his associates illegally entered the temple premises, demolished a structure, and issued threats to the temple president before fleeing the scene. The case has been booked under sections BNS 2023 U/S 189(2), 191(2), 329(3), 324(5), 351(2), and 190.
On Wednesday night, Rajesh Bannur and his wife visited Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple to offer prayers. It is reported that they prayed for justice and punishment for those responsible for the demolition of their house.
Protests have been planned for February 7 to condemn the alleged verbal abuse of MLA Ashok Kumar Rai and the temple management committee. The protests will take place at 10 am in front of the city police station, organized by the Rai Estate Educational and Charitable Trust, followed by another protest by the Block Congress at 10:30 am near the Amar Jawan Jyoti Memorial.