Tamil Nadu: FIR against 19 over alleged land fraud involving Meenakshi temple property in Madurai

MADURAI: The Madurai Central Crime Branch (CCB) has registered an FIR against 19 individuals following a complaint lodged by the Joint Commissioner of the historic Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple regarding an alleged land fraud case.

According to the complaint, the accused individuals allegedly conspired to fraudulently transfer the patta and execute illegal mortgage deeds and power-of-attorney registrations involving a high-value property belonging to the temple at Chokkikulam in Madurai.

The property in question was originally bequeathed to the temple under a registered will executed in 1930 specifically for carrying out temple charities and kattalai (ritual) services. Investigators alleged that private individuals, in collusion with former revenue and sub-registrar officials, manipulated official revenue records to facilitate the illegal transactions.

Madurai city police (CCB) registered a case against 19 persons, including two Sub-Registrars, in connection with illegal registration of properties, based on a complaint by Joint Commissioner of Arulmigu #Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple in #Madurai.
1/2@xpresstn @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/roOabavDnr

— S Mannar Mannan (@mannar_mannan) July 28, 2026

Despite pending revenue appeals and an interim stay granted by the Madras High Court, several property transactions were allegedly registered at the Murappanadu and Vadamadurai Sub-Registrar Offices.

Based on the official complaint filed by the temple administration, the CCB registered an FIR against 19 accused persons and launched a comprehensive investigation to trace the fraudulent transactions and hold the perpetrators accountable. The FIR was registered on July 25, 2026.

The accused have been booked for allegedly entering into a criminal conspiracy to usurp trust land belonging to the temple. The charges state that they illegally mutated the patta, registered fraudulent documents, and created a mortgage in direct violation of court orders and provisions of the Registration Act.

The Madurai City Central Crime Branch is conducting a detailed investigation into the matter and interrogating those connected to the case. (ANI)