Property worth over ₹100 crores belonging to the Thanjavur Corporation has been recovered from a DMK functionary by officials.
Sudarsana Sabha is located in Thanjavur, near the old bus stand, on 40,793 square feet owned by the corporation. The Sabha, which opened in 1927, was allowed to hold spiritual discourses and book launches.
Ramanathan, a former DMK councillor had taken the property on a lease for 99 years. He became the Sabha’s head in July 1991. His brothers Nagarajan, Kumaravel and Mani became the Secretary, Treasurer and General Committee member respectively. They had stopped conducting events at the Sabha and rented it out to run hotels, bars, mobile phone shops, etc. He had also not paid rent to the corporation causing severe losses to the state.
In this regard, a notice was sent to Ramanathan’s party on behalf of the corporation. Protesting against this, Ramanathan’s party filed a case in the Thanjavur court. Ramanathan and his brothers were prosecuted for misrepresenting information about Sabah members in the petition. The shops under rent were removed from the property.
On the orders of Thanjavur Corporation Commissioner Saravanakumar, officials led by Town Planning Officer Rajasekaran seized the Sudarsana Sabha building owned by the corporation from the occupiers and posted notices. Its current market value is ₹100 crore. Shopkeepers have been given one week to pick up their things.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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