Chennai, July 17:
The Registration Department has constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate alleged irregularities in the registration of land belonging to Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Mutt in Palani, amid a growing controversy surrounding the transaction.
The committee, comprising an Additional Inspector General of Registration, an Assistant Inspector General of Registration and a District Registrar, has been mandated to conduct a comprehensive probe. It will examine whether the land registration was carried out in accordance with statutory procedures and departmental rules. The move comes even as the police case related to the issue has been transferred to the CB-CID for further investigation.
As part of the inquiry, the panel will question the Sub-Registrar who was on duty at the time of the registration, the Sub-Registrar who was on leave that day, the office assistant concerned and the District Registrar. Statements from other officials connected with the registration process will also be recorded to establish the sequence of events and identify any lapses.
The committee has also been directed to scrutinise CCTV footage from the Sub-Registrar’s office on the day of the registration. This is aimed at reconstructing the events and verifying whether due procedure was followed throughout the transaction.
Meanwhile, Law Minister R Nirmalkumar denied allegations of involvement by any “power centres” in the registration and asserted that the government would not shield anyone. He said appropriate action would be taken against those found responsible.