Theni police have revealed that sub-registrar Justin Manikandan, who is currently facing action in the Palani temple mutt land registration scam, had already been booked last year in a separate document registration fraud case.
According to the complaint, Vijaybala of Melmangalam in Periyakulam taluk—who runs an automobile business in Chennai—found irregularities while checking the encumbrance certificate for his properties. The assets included 1.08 acres of land, his aunt Subbulakshmi’s 99 cents, and seven plots in Melmangalam, which were being maintained by a local man, Kattadevan.
Police said Kattadevan and Vijaybala’s relative Ravishankar allegedly impersonated the owners and executed registrations in the names of other persons, later selling the lands. Vijaybala lodged a complaint with the Theni Superintendent of Police in March 2025, following which the District Crime Branch conducted an inquiry.
A case was registered against 25 people, including Kattadevan, Gurusamy, Ravishankar, Eswaran, a retired police SSI named Amavasai, an SI Pandiyarajan, sub-registrars Justin Manikandan and Jagatheeswaran, and document writers Ashokan and Arivazhagan, among others. Police said several accused, including Kattadevan, Gurusamy, Eswaran, Ravishankar and the two document writers, were arrested last year.
The report also noted that Justin Manikandan—who has been suspended in connection with the alleged irregular registration of Palani Dhandayuthapani temple land valued at about Rs 100 crore—had this earlier land fraud case pending, yet was transferred and later handled the registration linked to the Palani temple land.
