The Tamil Nadu Registration Department has ordered a special audit in connection with the alleged Palani temple land scam and has begun scrutinising all documents registered by sub-registrar Justin Manikandan.
The controversy centres on land belonging to the Palani Dhandapani temple, said to be worth around Rs 100 crore, which was allegedly sold for Rs 2 crore. Complaints were raised that land documents were registered unlawfully, following which the sub-registrar was placed under temporary suspension.
Officials have now directed a comprehensive review of every document registered during his tenure at Palani—from February 2024 until the date of suspension—along with an assessment of any loss caused to the government.
A special inquiry team has been constituted under Sivaganga Assistant Inspector General of Registration Srinivasan. The team includes Tirunelveli Deputy Inspector General Swaminathan, Salem West Sub-Registrar Geetha, Virudhunagar Sub-Registrar Kaja Muhaideen, and office assistants Mohanraj and Muthukrishnan.
The team is currently conducting inspections at the Palani registration office. The department has instructed that the special audit be completed and a detailed report submitted within three days.
