Palani, July 17:
A major controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu over the alleged fraudulent registration of land linked to the famous Arulmigu Dhandayudapani Swamy Temple in Palani. With serious allegations of forgery and illegal transfer surfacing, the case has now entered a crucial phase as a CB-CID investigation officially begins.
The Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department has taken over the probe following orders from Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar. This comes amid mounting public concern over how a high-value temple property could allegedly be transferred to private individuals through questionable means.
According to initial reports, a 1.4-acre parcel of land, currently used as a parking facility for devotees visiting the Palani temple, was registered on July 6 in the names of two private individuals. The land is estimated to be worth around ₹100 crore, making the alleged irregularity particularly significant.
The complaint, filed by S. Muruganandam, an official associated with the temple’s land division, states that all revenue records—including the patta—clearly identify the land as belonging to the temple mutt. The temple administration, which operates under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, has strongly denied any authorization for such a transaction.
Police initially registered a First Information Report under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges related to forgery, cheating, use of forged documents, abetment, and criminal conspiracy. The FIR names several individuals, including a sub-registrar, in connection with the suspicious registration.
Parallel to the CB-CID probe, the Registration Department Tamil Nadu has constituted a three-member inquiry committee to examine procedural lapses. The panel includes senior officials such as an Additional Inspector General of Registration, an Assistant Inspector General, and a District Registrar.
This internal committee has been tasked with conducting a detailed investigation into whether proper legal procedures were followed during the land registration. As part of the inquiry, officials involved in the process—including the Sub-Registrar on duty, another officer who was on leave, and supporting staff—will be questioned. Authorities will also review CCTV footage from the registration office to reconstruct the sequence of events on the day the transaction took place.
The complaint further alleges that an individual named Murugadas falsely claimed to represent a trust with no legal ownership over the temple land and facilitated the registration in favor of two individuals identified as Vellathurai and Sethupathi. This has raised serious concerns about document verification processes and potential collusion within the system.
Amid the controversy, Tamil Nadu Law Minister R Nirmalkumar has denied any involvement of influential “power centres” in the case. He assured that the government would take strict action against anyone found guilty, emphasizing that no one would be protected if wrongdoing is established.
With both the CB-CID investigation and the departmental inquiry underway, the case is expected to uncover whether this was an isolated incident or indicative of deeper systemic issues in land registration processes. The outcome of the probe will be closely watched, given the religious significance of the property and the high value of the land involved.