Advocates from Virajpet submit arguments favouring main accused through post

Chamarajanagar: The judicial custody of the four accused in the Kichuguth Sulwadi Maramma Temple poisoning incident, where over 17 people lost their lives and many people scarred for life, has been extended to Feb. 26.

The four accused — Salur Mutt Junior Pontiff Immadi Mahadevaswamy alias Devanna Buddhi, Manager of the Temple Madesha, his wife Ambika and former employee of the Temple Doddaiah — were produced before the Chamarajanagar District and Sessions Court yesterday. They were produced through video conferencing facility from the Mysuru Central Jail.

Over 17 persons were killed and more than 120 fell ill after consuming the prasadam laced with pesticide on Dec.14, 2018 at Maramma Temple in Sulwadi.

Hearing the accused, Sessions Court Judge J. Basavaraja read the bail arguments submitted in favour of Immadi Mahadevaswamy sent through post by advocates from Virajpet in Kodagu. The arguments were sent by mail to the Court and the advocates abstained from the hearing.

The Judge later questioned the other accused Madesha, his wife Ambika and Doddaiah whether any advocates were representing them. They replied that they had hired advocate Durgaprasad from Bengaluru and he would submit his arguments on Wednesday (Feb. 13). The judge then extended the bail hearing to Feb. 26.

Advocates Appanna, H.U. Sudheesh and A.M. Lohit from Virajpet have agreed to argue in favour of main accused Immadi Mahadevaswamy. This was informed to the Court during the last hearing but the advocates did not attend the Court to represent their client. This time too, the advocates did not appear before the Court but instead sent their arguments through post.

Advocates’ Associations of Chamarajanagar and Mysuru had decided not to appear for the accused in the Court and the bail application moved by Kodagu advocates have raised brows.

Hospitals charge Rs. 1.27 crore: Meanwhile, the private hospitals that treated the victims of the poisoning cases have submitted a bill of Rs. 1 crore 27 lakh to the government. The hospitals began treating the victims as soon as the tragedy broke out and the government had assured the hospitals that the administration would foot the bill. Now that all the patients have been discharged, a bill of Rs. 1.27 crore has been submitted to the government through the Chamarajanagar District Administration.