High Court stays probe in FIR against Venkataramana Temple priest

Mangaluru

The Karnataka High Court has granted interim relief to members of the hereditary priestly family of the renowned Sri Venkataramana Temple at Car Street in Mangaluru by staying further investigation into a criminal case registered against them following allegations of domestic violence.

The case had created considerable attention in the region, as the family is associated with the historic temple, a major place of worship for the GSB community. Apart from serving as hereditary priests of the temple, the family is also known for preparing the Mangaluru Panchanga.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna, hearing a writ petition filed by five members of the family, including the temple’s chief priest M. Narasimha Acharya, passed an interim order staying further investigation in the case.

PP Hegde, senior advocate representing the petitioner argued that minor family differences arising from an inability to adjust to the traditional customs and practices followed by the family, which resides within the temple premises, had been given a criminal colour. They further contended that married sisters-in-law, who were living separately with their respective families in different places, had also been deliberately implicated in the case, amounting to a misuse of criminal law.

After hearing the arguments, the High Court issued an interim order staying further investigation in the case, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Third Additional JMFC Court in Mangaluru.

The matter is expected to come up for further hearing before the High Court.