CB-CID alleges forged documents were used to register prime temple land worth ₹100 crore
The Tamil Nadu CB-CID has arrested three people in connection with an alleged land grab involving a prime property belonging to the Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy (Palani Murugan) Temple, with investigators claiming the accused fraudulently registered land worth around ₹100 crore in their names using forged documents.
According to the probe, the disputed property is a parking area owned by the famous Palani Murugan Temple in Dindigul district. Officials alleged that the accused secured registration of the land, estimated to be worth around ₹100 crore, for just ₹2 crore by using fabricated documents.
The arrested accused have been identified as Vellaithurai (60) of Tiruppur district, Anwardeen (65) of Dindigul district and Murugadas (56) of Villupuram district.
The CB-CID has booked the trio under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy. The investigation is continuing.
Registration cancelled, sub-registrar suspended
Following the alleged fraud, the Tamil Nadu government cancelled the disputed property registration.
The then sub-registrar, Justin Manikandan, who processed the registration, was suspended. Investigators recently questioned him for several hours to determine how the allegedly forged documents were accepted and registered.
Officials are examining whether any public servants were complicit in facilitating the transaction.
Separate temple property fraud case in Madurai
In a separate development, the Madurai Central Crime Branch has registered an FIR against 19 people over another alleged fraud involving property belonging to the Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple.
The complaint, filed by the temple’s Joint Commissioner, alleges that the accused conspired to illegally transfer the lease of a valuable temple property in Chokkikulam by executing fraudulent mortgage deeds and powers of attorney.
Investigators said the property had been donated to the temple through a registered will in 1930 to support its religious and charitable activities.
Authorities suspect that revenue records were manipulated with the help of former officials from the Revenue and Sub-Registrar departments to facilitate the alleged illegal transactions.
The latest cases form part of the Tamil Nadu government’s ongoing investigation into alleged encroachments, forged registrations and illegal transfers involving temple properties managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.
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