Hi David,
I imagine that this is an allusion to the scandals at Kanchi:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankararaman_murder_case
There may have been some polemics at Sringeri in recent decades as well.
all best,
Matthew
Matthew Kapstein
Directeur
d'études,
Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes
Numata Visiting Professor of Buddhist Studies,
The University of Chicago