Chennai, July 22:
One of the accused in the alleged ₹100-crore Palani Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple land fraud case has approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail, claiming he was a bona fide purchaser with no role in any conspiracy.
Vellathurai, the second accused in the case registered by Palani Adivaram police, submitted that he had purchased the 1.4-acre property for ₹2 crore after verifying ownership documents and relying on civil court decrees that recognised the vendor’s title. The land, however, is estimated to be worth nearly ₹100 crore, raising suspicion of undervaluation.
In his plea, Vellathurai alleged that he had been falsely implicated due to political vendetta, arguing that the matter was essentially a civil property dispute that had been given a criminal colour. He stated that he had sold his own property for over ₹2 crore and reinvested the amount based on his chartered accountant’s advice to avail capital gains tax benefits.
The petitioner further pointed out that the Sub-Registrar had initially refused to register the sale deed, and that registration was completed only after directions from the High Court. He also claimed to have stable agricultural income and denied any intent to encroach upon temple land.
Fearing arrest, Vellathurai sought anticipatory bail. The court, while hearing the plea, directed him to implead the CB-CID as a respondent in the case.
The case pertains to the controversial sale of temple land in Palani, which has triggered a wider probe into alleged irregularities in registration and ownership claims.