DINDIGUL — In a major breakthrough in the high-profile Palani Murugan temple land scam, officers from Tamil Nadu's Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) arrested three individuals on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in the illegal registration of prime temple-affiliated property.

The fraud revolves around a lucrative 1.4-acre plot situated at the foothills of the famed Palani Murugan temple in Dindigul district. The land, currently used as a free parking facility for thousands of visiting pilgrims, carries an estimated market value of ₹100 crore. However, early this month, the prime property was fraudulently transferred and registered to private individuals for an undervalued sum of just ₹2 crore.

Bypassing Historical Charters and Objections

Investigators revealed that the fraudulent transaction took place on July 6, completely disregarding a historic 1888 permanent endowment deed. That original deed specifically dedicated the parcel of land exclusively for religious and charitable purposes, explicitly prohibiting any commercial sale, private transfer, or encumbrance.

Furthermore, registration officials executed the sale deed despite written objections raised by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, which oversees temple assets across the state.

High Court Intervention and Wider Investigation

The scandal prompted immediate administrative action and political backlash:

  • Official Suspensions: The Tamil Nadu government suspended Palani Joint Sub-Registrar Justin Manikandan and District Registrar Sasikala for facilitating the illegal transaction.

  • High Court Order: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court stepped in to declare the controversial sale deed null and void.

  • Special Probe Transferred: Following widespread public outcry, the state Director General of Police formally handed the case over to the CB-CID on July 15.

CB-CID sleuths recently conducted an exhaustive seven-hour interrogation of Joint Sub-Registrar Manikandan, who remains out on interim anticipatory bail granted by the High Court.

To map out the broader syndicate behind the scam, investigating officers have questioned more than 80 individuals so far, including retired revenue personnel, former temple administrators, and staff from the registration department. Authorities indicated that further arrests could follow as the multi-departmental investigation progresses.