Thiruvilwamala temple property dispute: Action may be taken against Devaswom official who transferred ownership of donated land

THRISSUR: Action may be taken against the Cochin Devaswom Board Deputy Commissioner, who transferred the ownership of land and house property, which was written in a will to be given after death to the Thiruvilwamala temple under the Cochin Devaswom Board, to his own name. The complaint was filed against former Thiruvilwamala Devaswom Manager and current Deputy Commissioner Sunil Kumar.

The action was taken after the Kerala Kaumudi published the news in this regard. In 2017, when Sunil Kumar was the Devaswom Manager, a complaint was filed that he had changed the ownership of 70 cents of land and a houseplot to his own name. Retired teacher A Kunjikkavu Amma had donated land and a house plot worth about 45 lakhs to be used for the development of the temple. Kunjikkavu Amma had also recorded that the proceeds from the sale of the land and plot after his death should be used for the development of the temple. The properties donated to the temple should be registered in the name of the Devaswom Board Secretary. However, the then Devaswom Manager had transferred the property to his own name.

The complaint was received by the Vigilance Ernakulam Central Range Police Superintendent, alleging that the then Devaswom Management Board was not informed about the land deeded to the temple by Kunjikkavu Amma. The complainant is E Sarish, a native of Nettissery. A native of Trikkur also filed a complaint with the Chief Minister yesterday in the matter. However, the complaint states that it was a serious mistake not to inform the board about the land deeded to the temple even after two years of Kunjikkavu Amma's death. In the meantime, it is reported that Sunil Kumar took steps to sell the land and plot and pay the money to the Devaswom Board after learning that public workers and their relatives were investigating the incident.