I’ll not hesitate to file criminal case to get back my ‘Presiding Deity’: Shiroor Swamiji
Shiroor (Hiriyadka): Lakshmivara Theertha Swamiji of Shiroor Mutt said that he would not hesitate to file a criminal case to get his Presiding Deity.
Speaking to reporters at Shiroor Mutt on Monday, the swamiji said that “Sri Krishna of the Sri Krishna Mutt is not my property. Sri Rama is not my property. But Anna Vittala is my property. If needed, I will not hesitate to file criminal case in the court to get my Presiding Deity back”, he said.
He gave a hint of taking a legal battle against the decision of Vidyadeesha Theertha Swamiji of Paryaya Palimaru Mutt, Pejawar Mutt swamiji and other swamijis who have denied returning the idol of Anna Vittala and others to Shiroor Swamiji.
“It is common practice that at the time of going to some places, people keep their valuables with their reliable persons and take them back once they returned home. If your reliable person declined to return your valuables, it means it is a robbery. In the same way, declining to return my Presiding Deity which was kept at Sri Krishna Mutt for pooja rituals is also a robbery”, the swamiji said.
Out of eight mutts, the seers of six mutts came together and held a meeting and they have taken a decision against Shiroor mutt. If he asked his Presiding Deity, they were pointing towards their leader. Everyone knew who is their leader, he said indirectly pointing at the Pejawar seer.
When asked about their decision of not returning the Presiding Deity unless accepting the disciple, the seer said “Who are those people to deny my Presiding Deity. I have to decide on accepting my disciple. There are many people to become disciple. I know whom to accept as my disciple”, he said.
“I would not go to any meetings even if they invite me. The main god of the mutt would get my Presiding Deity back”, he added.
Those who speak about following the traditions have not been following them properly. As per the tradition, the right of touching and offering pooja to the presiding deity and opening and closing the box in which the idol is being kept would rest with the respective seers. But when some swamijis were travelling in flights, the staff of the flight would touch the idols. Is that a right tradition, he asked.
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BMW hit-and-run case: HC refuses to release accused Mihir Shah on ground of 'illegal' arrest
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to release Mihir Shah, the main accused in a BMW hit-and-run case, on the ground of "illegal" arrest.
Shah, the 24-year-old son of a former Shiv Sena leader, and his driver Rajrishi Bidawat had filed petitions in the HC claiming they have been illegally detained and sought immediate release.
Shah was arrested on July 9, two days after he allegedly rammed his BMW car into a two-wheeler in Mumbai's Worli area, killing 45-year-old woman Kaveri Nakhwa and leaving her husband Pradeep injured.
His driver Bidawat, who was also present in the car at the time of the accident, was arrested on the day of the incident.
As per their pleas, the police had not informed them the grounds of their arrest at the time, which they claimed was in violation of the law.
A division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande on Monday dismissed the petitions.
"Both the petitions are dismissed," the court said.
The duo sought their release, claiming any further detention would be in utter violation of the constitutional mandate and a failure to comply with Section 50 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Under this section, the police, while arresting a person, have to communicate to him/her full particulars of the offence for which he/she is being arrested or other grounds for such arrest.
Both Shah and Bidawat are presently in judicial custody.
In their habeas corpus (produce the person) petitions filed in the HC in August, Shah and Bidawat claimed their detention was illegal and sought that they be released immediately.
Shah, in the plea, sought quashing of the orders passed by a local court remanding him first in police custody and then judicial custody.
He also sought for his arrest to be declared as illegal.
Shah is accused of speeding off towards the Bandra Worli Sea Link after the accident, even as the woman remained on the bonnet of the car and then got entangled in its wheels, for a distance of more than 1.5 kilometres.
As per police, Shah, who fled from the scene, was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
Mihir Shah's father and former Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Shah had also been arrested in the case, but was later granted bail.
