Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SHS)

Beltangady, Jul 30: In a major development, the Karnataka high court on Wednesday July 30 suspended Dakshina Kannada superintendent of police (SP) Dr Sharanappa and two other police officials in a case related to the construction of a temple at Ujire.

The high court directed the chief secretary of the state home department to suspend Dr Sharanappa along with Beltangady circle inspector Lingappa Poojary and another police official who investigated the case.

The issue relates to the construction of Shree Kshetra Kunjarpa temple at Ujire. The complainants, Shashikala Shetty and her husband Taranath Shetty had filed a case alleging that the temple was being built in a private land. Mahesh Thimarody of Praja Prabhutva Vedike was named as the accused.

A temple committee had been formed earlier and Shashikala's father Mahabala Shetty had been its head. Mahabala Shetty passed away sometime ago, and Thimarody now heads the committee, sources said.

The temple committee had stated that the temple would be built on 84 cents of poramboke land, but Taranath Shetty contended that the land was private and belonged to him. The tahsildar and other officials had surveyed the land and had come to the same conclusion, it is said.

Shashikala Shetty had then filed a petition in the high court alleging that the Beltangady police had failed to take necessary action in the matter. The high court had summoned the SP and other police officials on Wednesday, but as they failed to appear in court, the judge passed an order to suspend them, it is learnt.