A lawyer arrested in the Palani land fraud case died suddenly at Madurai Central Jail after complaining of ill health, officials said. The deceased was identified as Anwar Deen (65).
The case relates to alleged fraudulent registration of land worth about Rs 100 crore belonging to the Thandapani Swamy Mutt at Palani foothills. The CB-CID is investigating the matter and has registered a case against 11 people, including the Palani sub-registrar Justin Manikandan, trust administrator Murugadas (56) of Villupuram, buyer Vellai Thurai (60) from Pappankulam near Udumalai in Tiruppur district, and Palani Sethupathi (67).
Anwar Deen and others were arrested and remanded to judicial custody at Madurai Central Jail on July 29. Officials said he had been affected by paralysis and was brought to prison in a wheelchair. The CB-CID later took four remand prisoners, including him, into custody for three days of questioning.
On the evening before his death, the four were taken to Madurai Government Hospital, where a fitness certificate was obtained before they were lodged back in jail, sources said. As Anwar Deen appeared weak and was a diabetic, he was kept under observation at the prison hospital.
He reportedly ate dinner around 9 pm and collapsed at about 9.45 pm. While he was being taken to the government hospital, he was found to have died on the way due to a heart attack. On Saturday morning, First Additional Fast Track Court Judge Rajaprabhu visited the hospital and conducted an inquiry with prison guards and doctors, officials said.
