Acharya wrote to Bidari

BANGALORE : Even before the station was shifted, muzrai minister V S Acharya had written to then police commissioner Shankar M Bidari: "The temple has historical significance. But the quarters, which is an unauthorized structure, masks the temple from the main road and thus, the temple has seen hardly any development. It must be removed and the space given back to the muzrai department for the welfare of the temple." The minister's plea went unheeded.High Grounds police, though, are not complaining. "It was extremely difficult for us to work from the makeshift shed on Race Course Road. Rats and insects played havoc with us. The rainy season was hell," they recalled, and admitted that they were quite happy in the new building next to the temple.
TEMPLE HAS ROYAL PAST
Encroachment of Sampangirameshwara temple premises on Miller's Road dates back to pre-Independence days. Dharmapuri Maharaj, Rana of Nepal, was living in a bungalow on Cunningham Road, across the temple, in early 20th century. The building on the temple premises was used as residential space by the king's security personnel and servants. After Independence, the building was converted into police quarters