The Hindu 08.10.2010
Will of retired GVMC official prevails
Special Correspondent 
Tahsildar of Visakhapatnam Urban Dharmachandra Reddy examining the documents in the house of V. Suseela Devi near Sri Kanakamahalakshmi temple in the city on Thursday. Temple EO Bhramaramba is also seen.
VISAKHAPATNAM: Neighbours of a retired AAO of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation made sure that her property and cash went to the custody of the government to be handed over to the Sri Kanakamahalakshmi temple in the city.
A retired AAO of GVMC Vidapanakala Suseela Devi, an 80-year-old spinster living alone near the temple, passed away on September 9. She had been telling her neighbours that the house, of around 250 square yards and roughly estimated to be worth Rs. 50 lakhs, should go to the temple after her death and requested them to see to it that it was properly utilised.
As some persons claiming to be her relatives came to lay their claim on the property after her death and some politicians too made a bid to take away the house, the locals resisted as they wanted to fulfil the wish of Suseela Devi. “We made a representation to the Collector and Joint Collector to protect the property and see to it that it is given to the Sri Kanakamahalakshmi temple as per her wish,” said an advocate Aripaka Satyanarayana. K.V. Gangadhar running a shop opposite her house, milk booth owner Vasu, gold smith T. Balajee and others were among those who made efforts to save Suseela Devi’s property. Corporator of 24 {+t} {+h} ward B. Umamaheswara Rao too helped the locals.
On Thursday, District Collector and Joint Collector sent Tahsildar (urban) Dharmachandra Reddy to the house to hold an inquest. In the presence of Executive Officer of the temple D. Bhramaramba, Chairman of the temple trust committee K. Tata Rao and locals, Mr. Reddy opened the front door and almaraih in the house.
Cash found
The officials and others were astonished to see nearly Rs. 2.36 lakhs in cash, the currency notes dating back 50 years. She did not even open her salary covers and simply pushed them into various bags, said Mr. Satyanarayana.
There were also some gold ornaments like chains, earrings, etc. She was having nearly Rs. 8 lakhs of deposits in banks. All the cash, gold and documents were sealed and sent to the I Town Police Station for safe custody.
Ms. Bhramaramba said the Tahsildar had conducted a panchanama and prepared an inventory and later asked the Devasthanam to lock the house.
It could be said that the house was under the control of Revenue Department and the Endowments Department would be handed over the house only after the due process of issuing a notification seeking objections if any, waiting and clearing objections, etc. was followed.
Mr. Satyanarayana said the neighbours would like the money of Suseela Devi deposited in the banks should be given to the Annadanam scheme of the temple and a mandapam be named after her.
The house and money should be spent in such a way that it was useful to the people, he said.
