Controversial ‘guru’ buys former KeyBank building

Annamalai’s Hindu temple in Georgia went bankrupt

Annamalai Annamalai (foreground), also known as Dr. Commander Selvam, has purchased the former Key Bank building in downtown Dayton. He has also purchased the former flea market buildings on Olive Road in Trotwood, with plans to make it the Hindu Temple of Ohio. Behind him are priests who are working with him locally. Staff photo by Lisa Powell

Lisa Powell/Staff Annamalai Annamalai (foreground), also known as Dr. Commander Selvam, has purchased the former Key Bank building in downtown Dayton. He has also purchased the former flea market buildings on Olive Road in Trotwood, with plans to make it the Hindu Temple of Ohio. Behind him are priests who are working with him locally. Staff photo by Lisa Powell

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Annamalai Annamalai (center) stands inside a Hindu temple in Norcross Georgia. recently purchased the former Key Bank building, 32 N. Main St., in downtown Dayton and has opened a temple on the far west side. Contributed photo by Hyosub Shin

Hyosub Shin/staff Annamalai Annamalai (center) stands inside a Hindu temple in Norcross Georgia. recently purchased the former Key Bank building, 32 N. Main St., in downtown Dayton and has opened a temple on the far west side. Contributed photo by Hyosub Shin

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By Lucas Sullivan and Tim Tresslar
Staff Writers Updated 8:33 AM Monday, September 6, 2010

DAYTON — A controversial and self-proclaimed Hindu guru who recently lost his Georgia temple through bankruptcy has established a temple here and purchased a key piece of real estate downtown.

Annamalai Annamalai, who has started or operated Hindu temples in California, Arizona and Georgia, recently purchased the former KeyBank building, 32 N. Main St., in downtown Dayton and has opened a temple on Dayton’s far west side.

Annamalai, 45, also known as Dr. Commander Selvam and Swamiji Sri Siddhar Selvam, in June purchased the former flea market at 2222 Olive Road and is nearing the end of what he calls a weeks-long purification blessing before it begins to hold services open to the public, he said.

Annamalai’s purchase of the former KeyBank building for $525,000 cash has raised eyebrows among city staff and economic development groups. He said he bought the vacant KeyBank building after being inside it for about 10 minutes and feeling positive energy. He has told city officials he wants a bank and a restaurant on the first floor.

Annamalai’s purchases come less than a year after his Hindu Temple of Georgia entered bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Annamalai has filed at least 20 defamation lawsuits against former devotees and media outlets that raised questions about his religious practices.

The negative attention, along with Annamalai’s arrest by Georgia police on charges of theft and practicing medicine without a license (which were later dropped), caused the temple to default on a $2.3 million loan, his attorney John Scaccia said.

Atlanta attorney Mark Scott, who represents former devotees Annamalai has sued, said Annamalai’s reputation has been ruined “by his own doing.”

Annamalai said he came to Dayton because he was looking to open a temple in the Midwest. His purchase of the KeyBank building “is a commitment to the community to help bring back the area and help economically revitalize it,” Scaccia said.

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