Rs 60-crore Meenakshi Temple land grabbed through fake transfers, case against 19

The Madurai City Central Crime Branch (CCB) has registered an FIR against 19 people after a 1.79-acre, Rs 60-crore property linked to Madurai's Meenakshi Temple was allegedly grabbed through fraudulent land transfers, registrations and mortgage transactions.

In Short

• 1.79-acre temple trust land worth Rs 60 crore grabbed via fake transfers
• Original 1930 will barred sale, mortgage or ownership transfer of property
• Tehsildar illegally changed ownership in 2016, order later cancelled

A 1.79-acre property worth around Rs 60 crore belonging to a charitable trust associated with Madurai's famous Meenakshi Temple has been allegedly grabbed through fraudulent land transfers, registrations and mortgage transactions, officials said. The Madurai City Central Crime Branch (CCB) registered an FIR against 19 people in the matter.

The FIR alleged that the accused conspired to usurp the temple trust land through fraudulent patta transfers, forged registrations and mortgage transactions in violation of court orders and registration laws. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by Meenakshi Temple Joint Commissioner and Executive Officer Sellathurai and anti-corruption organisation Arappor Iyakkam.

According to the complaint, a will registered in 1930 at the Saidapet Sub-Registrar's Office declared that the Ashoka Vilas bungalow and its adjoining garden on Alagar Kovil Road belonged to a charitable trust created to serve the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and the Alagar Temple. The will permitted only leasing of the property and expressly barred its sale, mortgage or transfer of ownership.

However, on June 24, 2016, then Madurai North Tehsildar Anbazhagan allegedly removed the temple's ownership from official records and illegally transferred the patta in favour of nine individuals.

After the alleged irregularity came to light, the Revenue Divisional Officer cancelled the Tehsildar's order, reaffirmed that the land belonged to the temple trust and directed that the patta be restored in the temple's name. A related case was also filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which granted an interim pause.

The FIR further alleges that despite the court's order, a General Power of Attorney (GPA) was registered on April 16, 2021, at the Murappanadu Sub-Registrar's Office in Thoothukudi district through the then Sub-Registrar Anantharaman. Based on that document, a mortgage deed was subsequently registered on July 19, 2021, at the Vadamadurai Sub-Registrar's Office in Dindigul district by then Sub-Registrar Prasanth Santhana Karuppan.

Investigators alleged that the accused acted in concert to illegally take control of the temple trust land by facilitating fraudulent patta transfers, registering documents despite legal restrictions and creating mortgage transactions over the disputed property.

The CCB has registered the case under Sections 318(4) (cheating) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the 19 accused. Further investigation is underway.

- Ends