The Madras HC has directed the Union government to find out whether funds were available in any bank in Switzerland to the credit of Pandiya’s king, as claimed by the legal heir, and file a report within three weeks.
A division bench, comprising justices P. Jyothimani and M. Duraiswamy, gave the direction to the Union ministry of finance while passing further interim orders on a petition from Ms R. Padmini Rani, wife of Mr S.K.N. Raveendranath of Tirunelveli, who claims to be the legal heir of Varagunarama Pandiya Chinna Thambiar, son of Senthattikalai Pandiya Chinna Thambiar, the last zamindar of Sivagiri.
Ms Padmini Rani’s petition sought a direction to the authorities to identify and hand over to her all immoveable properties belonging to Sivagiri estate. The properties were entrusted to the Tirunelveli collector for management under the court of wards Act.
The report of CCB, Chennai, filed on the directions of the bench and presented by special public prosecutor I.S. Inbadurai, stated that huge amounts were deposited in the name of Pandiya king at Switzerland. Ms Vidhya Patwardhan took this job on commission basis.
Expressing satisfaction over the investigation report, the bench said the matter requires further investigation in respect of the properties of the Sivagiri Estate situated throughout the state and also huge amounts were pending with the foreign bank.
As suggested in the report, the bench directed the government to hand over the papers to CB-CID, “who should file a report within three weeks”.
The bench said, “In the meantime, the Union ministry of finance shall also find out as to whether any funds are available in any bank in Switzerland to the credit of Pandiya’s king and file a report within three months.” The bench posted to July 9 further hearing of the case. n P 3