The CBCID Dindigul has filed a charge sheet within 90 days against five accused in the fraudulent registration of land belonging to the Arulmigu Dhandapani Swamigal Mutt in Palani. The case centers on a 1.35-acre charitable property with a market value estimated at Rs 100 crore, which was illegally sold despite pending objections from the HR&CE Department. Investigators examined over 160 witnesses and diverse departmental documents, leading to the suspension of a Sub-Registrar and ongoing probes into potential corruption offenses.

The CBCID Dindigul has filed a charge sheet within 90 days against five accused in the fraudulent registration of land belonging to the Arulmigu Dhandapani Swamigal Mutt in Palani. The case centers on a 1.35-acre charitable property with a market value estimated at Rs 100 crore, which was illegally sold despite pending objections from the HR&CE Department. Investigators examined over 160 witnesses and diverse departmental documents, leading to the suspension of a Sub-Registrar and ongoing probes into potential corruption offenses.

The CBCID Dindigul has filed a charge sheet within 90 days against five accused in the fraudulent registration of land belonging to the Arulmigu Dhandapani Swamigal Mutt in Palani. The case centers on a 1.35-acre charitable property with a market value estimated at Rs 100 crore, which was illegally sold despite pending objections from the HR&CE Department. Investigators examined over 160 witnesses and diverse departmental documents, leading to the suspension of a Sub-Registrar and ongoing probes into potential corruption offenses.

The Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CBCID), Dindigul, filed a charge sheet within the statutory 90-day period in the alleged fraudulent registration of land belonging to the Arulmigu Dhandapani Swamigal Mutt in Palani, marking a significant step in a case that exposed vulnerabilities in protecting religious endowment properties.

The charge sheet was filed before the jurisdictional Judicial Magistrate Court on October 24 against five accused—Murugadass, Sethupathy, Vellaithurai, Justin Manikandan, a suspended Sub-Registrar, and Jeyaprakash. Advocate S. Anwardeen, another accused, had died on August 7 during interrogation, following which proceedings against him were abated.

According to the CBCID, the case concerns one acre and 35 cents of land dedicated to the Mutt in 1888 for religious and charitable purposes. The property's guideline value is approximately Rs 16 crore. The investigation found that a sale deed was executed for a stated consideration of Rs 2 crore and registered despite an appeal by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department being pending. 

The investigation agency, according to the chargesheet, examined more than 160 witnesses and analysed documents obtained from the registration, revenue and HR&CE departments, besides CCTV footage, call detail records and banking records. Further investigation is continuing into the involvement of others and possible offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

How the controversy unfolded

The disputed property near the foothills of the Palani temple had been used as a free parking facility for devotees. The 1888 charitable settlement deed was central to the dispute over ownership and the property's transfer. Its market value was estimated at around Rs 100 crore, which is substantially higher than the guideline value, as per the latest CBCID statement. 

The controversy surfaced after a sale deed was registered on July 6, 2026, in favour of two private individuals, Vellathurai and Sethupathy. The transaction purportedly involved a trust represented by Murugadass, who claimed to be its administrator. Temple authorities disputed the trust's entitlement to transfer the Mutt's land.

A sale deed executed on March 27 was initially refused registration, with a refusal slip issued on April 1. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court subsequently declared the registration invalid in July, noting that the Mutt had not been made a party to the earlier proceedings and that its objections had not been properly considered. The case was transferred to the CBCID after a police complaint by temple authorities. The alleged transaction also prompted scrutiny of the role of registration officials. Justin Manikandan was suspended, and investigators subsequently arrested several people as the probe widened.

The filing of the charge sheet within 90 days represents a key milestone, but the investigation is continuing into the possible involvement of other persons and corruption-related offences. The case has apparently raised wider questions about safeguards governing the transfer of religious endowment properties, particularly when ownership is disputed and litigation is pending.

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