The Writ Petition filed by Karthik Gopinath seeking for a direction in relation to the amounts lying under the campaign initiated through the crowdfunding platform came up for hearing in the Hon’ble Madras High Court before Hon’ble Justice PD Audikesavalu.

The Writ Petition filed by Karthik Gopinath seeking for a direction in relation to the amounts lying under the campaign initiated through the crowdfunding platform came up for hearing in the Hon’ble Madras High Court before Hon’ble Justice PD Audikesavalu. The Petitioner was represented by Ld.Counsel Shri.Ragavachari and the State was represented by Ld.Advocate General, Ld.Public Prosecutor and Ld.Government Pleader for the HR&CE. After elaborate arguments for 1.5 hours, the Hon’ble Justice adjourned the matter to 28.11.2022 with a direction to the crowd funding platform to file details of donors and amounts donated. The Ld.Counsel Shri.Ragavachari prayed before the Hon’ble Court that the present writ petition only contains a simple prayer to utilise the funds lying in crowd funding platform and that the Petitioner is separately fighting the criminal proceedings against him and is willing to cooperate and provide all information that is required. The Ld.Counsel also raised a question as to why the HR & CE is not utilising the readily available funds that are lying idle in the crowd funding platform. It was pointed out that the Stapathi who has been engaged for the idol construction work has not been paid for the work carried out. The arguing Counsels appearing for the State objected to the Writ Petition mentioned that the reconstruction work has been completed and that the HR&CE is not in need of the funds..