Seremban sessions court judge Amran Jantan barred the trio from making any allegation against the Sri Balathandayuthabani temple committee.

The order will be in force until May 15, when the matter will be heard inter partes.

This comes a day before Badrul, also known as Chegubard, and the two other defendants – P Sureshkumar and M Natarajen – were supposed to hold a press conference concerning the alleged misappropriation of the temple’s funds.

In its affidavit supporting the injunction application, the committee said Badrul had made three Facebook posts regarding Sureshkumar’s report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission accusing the committee of misusing the temple funds.

“The first post went viral and has been shared more than 490 times on Facebook, liked by about 1,400 users, and received over 150 comments that have tarnished the plaintiff’s image,” the committee’s lawyers said.

They said the post contained, among others, defamatory words that alluded to abuses of power by the committee. This led to numerous complaints from devotees, leading to the Registrar of Societies cancelling the temple committee’s registration.

“The defendants further alleged that the temple secretary had transferred RM300,000 of the temple’s funds to a company owned by him during this period.

“They also claimed that those involved in the alleged embezzlement were being protected by political leaders who are in power. They alleged there are also elements of gangsterism involved in the issue,” said the lawyers.

The committee denied all the allegations.

Asmawi Ismail from Deidra Sharina & Co appeared for the temple committee.