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Lakshmi Subramanian
Lakshmi Subramanian

Controversy

Latha Rajinikanth’s school locked over non-payment of rent

latha-rajinikanth Latha Rajinikanth | via Commons

At a time when superstar Rajinikanth is seriously contemplating politics, The Ashram, one of the popular schools in Chennai owned by his wife Latha Rajinikanth has run into trouble once again. The school has been locked unprecedentedly over non-payment of rent for the past few months. The owner of the venue reportedly locked the school premises in Guindy.

The Ashram Matriculation Higher Secondary School, for children from kinder garden to higher secondary, has two branches in Chennai—one near Race Course near Guindy, which functions from a rented space and another branch at Velacherry, Chennai. Raghavendhra Educational Trust functions from a rented space in Guindy, which belongs to an individual named Venkateswaralu. The sprawling space let on rent for the trust houses the Ashram School. The actor is reportedly the executive trustee of the educational trust and his wife Latha, the correspondent of the school.

According to sources, the trust and Latha, despite repeated requests, did not pay the rent for the past five years, running up to Rs.10 crores. Meanwhile, the school has shifted all its students to Velacherry branch and has reportedly locked Guindy school premises.

Despite repeated calls there has been response from the school management on this issue.

It may be recalled that Rajinikanth, who is seriously considering entering politics, is busy meeting the members of his fan clubs. The actor complained about the fault in the system in dealing corruption and also expressed his opinions on politics. His speech was looked at as an important political statement from a person who is always considered above corruption by his 20 lakh fans across the state. Since then the macho hero’s political entry has been the most discussed issue in Tamil Nadu.

However, in December last year, at least 28 drivers who work for the Ashram School, staged a protest, alleging non-payment of salary for over six months. The drivers then said the management was giving several reasons like demonetisation, former CM J. Jayalalithaa’s death, cyclone vardah and others for non-availability of funds. Also in 2011, the same land owner had reportedly filed a civil suit for eviction after a dispute over rent paid by the school and the matter was pending in a court. Earlier in January this year, Vandana Tugnait, principal of the school, refuted some media reports which said the Madras High Court asked Rajinikanth to appear before the education department officials in connection with the land case.

Notably, in 2015, Latha Rajinikanth was booked for forgery and cheating by the Chennai city police following the direction by a local jurisdictional court while disposing a private complaint. Latha had a financial dispute with Abirchand Nahar of Ad Bureau regarding the post-production work of Kochadaiiyaan, which was directed by her daughter Soundarya. The movie failed in the box office. Again in 2014, a possession notice was issued to Latha Rajinikanth by the public sector Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) for a property in Padapai, near Kancheepuram. The notice said Latha had stood guarantor for a loan to Mediaone Global Entertainment Ltd which was worth Rs.22.21 crore including the interest. 

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