This Article summarizes the dispute between Anoop (S/o Radhakrishnan) and “Managing Trustee” Ramesh Chandran, “Karanavar” Sivadasan.
Anoop, the grandson of Chellamma Channatty and son of Radhakrishnan, has longstanding familial ties to Alummoottil Tharavad in Kerala. Despite residing in the USA, he has maintained a connection with the historic property. In 2024, the property was restructured into the Alummoottil Tharavad Trust, with Anoop’s father transferring inherited properties into the trust, which is managed by his brother, Ramesh Chandran.
On August 9, 2024, Anoop arrived at the Tharavad after informing his father, who in turn notified managing trustee Ramesh Chandran. Upon arrival, he encountered resistance to entry from a group of individuals, following the instructions of certain trust members, another trust beneficiary, Sivadasan, who has self-proclaimed himeself as the chieftain (Karanavar) of the family, despite the Karanavar system having been legally abolished in the family a century ago. As there were no explicit legal provisions restricting Anoop’s access, the situation escalated, leading him to call the police for intervention.
Following this event, an FIR (574/2024) was filed against Anoop (below) on August 10, 2024, by Arun B. Unni, who has identified himself as the Meda supervisor, though his role as Meda supervisor has not been formally documented in trust records.
Subsequently, on August 16, 2024, civil case (original suit 100243/2024) was filed against Anoop. The legal actions followed the property dispute.
Anoop’s relationship with the Tharavad had historically been without conflict. In response to “Karanavar” Sivadasan’s public message (below) stating that Anoop has no right to Alummoottil and is merely a nuisance.
Anoop’s mother issued a public statement (below) affirming Anoop’s right to visit the property and underscoring his deep-rooted family connections. He had been invited to inaugurate the newly reconstructed Meda on December 23, 2023, underscoring his continued connection to the property. Additionally, his legal record remains clear in both India and the USA.
“Karanavar” Sivadasan, despite not holding an official administrative role in the trust, states in an October 9, 2024, letter (below) that he had provided guidance to security personnel regarding Anoop’s entry.
Additionally, certain individuals present during the incident were not included in the FIR, highlighting the importance of a transparent and impartial legal review.. Given the sequence of events, an independent legal review could offer clarity and ensure that all relevant legal principles are fairly applied.
