A controversy has erupted over the registration of a 1.40-acre land parcel linked to the Palani Dhandayuthapani temple mutt, after allegations surfaced that the property—estimated to be worth around Rs 100 crore—was sold for Rs 2 crore.
The land, said to have been donated in 1888 in the mutt’s name for the temple, is alleged to have been encroached upon by private parties. Since 1999, individuals claiming rights in the mutt’s administration had reportedly attempted to sell the land, but those efforts were repeatedly blocked following intervention by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department.
According to the report, the land was sold on July 6 after being described as belonging to a private trust, and the issue came to light when the sale deed was registered. A court later cancelled the registration and ordered an inquiry into the background of the transaction. The CB-CID is investigating, and a separate inquiry team has also been formed under the Registration Department’s Additional IG.
In the aftermath, sub-registrar Justin Manikandan—who registered the deed—and district registrar Sasikala have been placed under temporary suspension. Senior officials are now examining how Justin Manikandan, who was serving as a sub-registrar for chit fund-related work at the Ottanchathiram district registrar office, was deputed to the Palani sub-registrar office on July 4 and who activated his website login access required for registration work.
Officials are also reviewing why the deed was registered in haste despite earlier objections. The document, signed on March 27, had been submitted for registration then, but the then sub-registrar refused citing a pending civil dispute. A single judge later directed in April that the deed be registered within three weeks, but the parties did not approach the office within that period. With the regular Palani sub-registrar on leave and the court deadline already over, questions have been raised over how the deed was still registered on July 6 and whether any instructions came from higher-ups in Chennai.
