Tirunelveli Iruttukadai halwa shop dispute resurfaces as new case hits court

CHENNAI: A fresh dispute has erupted over the ownership of the iconic Iruttukadai Halwa shop in Tirunelveli, with claims and counterclaims threatening to shake the legacy of the decades-old establishment.

Nayan Singh, brother of the current operator Kavitha, has publicly declared that the shop belongs solely to him. Backing his claim is a will allegedly written by the late Bijili Singh, a key figure in the business’ history, said a Daily Thanthi report.

According to the will, ownership of Iruttukadai was exclusively granted to Nayan, son of Jayaram Singh. This led Nayan to file a civil case in the Second District Civil Court of Tirunelveli, seeking legal recognition of his rights. “I am only acting according to the instructions left in the will by Bijili Singh. I have no personal conflict — this is about rightful ownership,” Nayan said in a brief statement.

It is noteworthy that a few weeks ago, owners of the world-famous shop in Tirunelveli, along with their daughter, had filed a complaint against her husband for harassment and dowry demand. Kanishka, the victim, was married to a man from Coimbatore on February 2 and shifted there.

She told reporters that her husband had an extramarital affair and also frequently brought the other woman home. She alleged that he had threatened her to be silent about it. Dejected by his attitude, she returned to Tirunelveli on March 15.

The next day, he reached Tirunelveli with his parents and demanded more dowry, including the rights to the halwa shop, if Kaniska wanted a peaceful life.

Kanishka and her family sought protection from her husband and sought action against him.