CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu director general of police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal on Wednesday transferred to the CB-CID the investigation into the alleged fraudulent registration of a parcel of 1.4-acre land belonging to the Arulmigu Dhandayudapani Swami Mutt in Palani. The property is estimated to be worth around Rs 100 crore. The registration department had earlier suspended the sub-registrar involved in the incident.A sub-registrar and three others were booked by the Palani Adivaram police for allegedly executing a fraudulent sale deed involving the prime property. The FIR was registered on July 13 based on a complaint by S Muruganantham, land section superintendent of the Palani Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, which is administered by the Hindu religious and charitable endowments (HR&CE) Department.According to the complaint, the disputed property measures 1.40 acre in town survey nos. 998 and 999 in ward 3, block 25, in Palani town. Revenue records and patta stand in the name of the Arulmigu Dhandapani Swamy Mutt, which is managed by the temple’s joint commissioner-cum-executive officer acting as the govt-appointed fit person.The property, located at the foothills of the Palani temple, is currently used as a free parking facility for devotees. Police said the temple administration had earlier issued instructions that no document relating to the property should be registered. Despite this, a sale deed was allegedly registered on July 6.According to the complaint, Murugadas, a resident of Villupuram district, claimed to be the administrator of a private trust called Thirupugazh Swamigal, Murugadas Swamigal and Dhandapani Swamigal Trust and executed a sale deed transferring the property to Vellathurai of Udumalpet and Sethupathi of Palani.The complaint named Justin Manikandan, who was holding additional charge as sub-registrar at the Palani no. 1 joint sub-registrar office, alleging that he had registered the document despite prior objections and ownership claims raised by the temple administration. The disputed transaction was registered as document no. 1446 of 2026.The alleged fraud came to light during a verification of temple properties by the HR&CE department, following which a police complaint was lodged. Based on the complaint, sub-inspector R Murali of the Palani Adivaram police registered an FIR against Murugadas, Vellathurai, Sethupathi and Justin Manikandan. They have been booked under Sections 318(4) (cheating), 336(3) and 340(2) (forgery-related offences) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
