The Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department (CB-CID), which is probing the high-profile Palani temple land fraud case in Tamil Nadu, arrested suspended Sub-Registrar Justin Manikandan on Thursday. Officials said he was taken into custody from Kodaikanal in Dindigul district, a day after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition.
The case pertains to the alleged illegal sale and registration of 1.40 acres of land belonging to the Dhandapani Swami Mutt in Palani, valued at approximately ₹100 crore. Investigators allege that the valuable religious property was transferred to private individuals despite objections raised by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.
The investigation began on July 13 after the HR&CE Department lodged a formal complaint at the Palani Adivaram Police Station. The complaint alleged that the mutt’s land had been sold to two private individuals even though the department had objected to the proposed transaction on multiple occasions.
According to the complaint, the land had been officially linked to the HR&CE Department on September 25, 2025, and was being used as a temporary parking facility for devotees visiting the Lord Dhandayudapani Temple in Palani. Despite its official status, the property was allegedly registered in violation of established procedures governing ownership and transfer of temple assets.
Investigators further alleged that D. Murugadas, a relative of former Dhandapani Swami Mutt trustee Dhandapani Ayya, conspired with then Sub-Registrar Justin Manikandan to facilitate the disputed land registration. Following the allegations, the Registration Department suspended Manikandan from service, and the investigation was subsequently transferred to the CB-CID due to the seriousness of the case.
The CB-CID formally registered the case on July 16 and later intensified its investigation. On July 29, the agency arrested four individuals, including alleged buyers K. Vellaithurai and Sethupathi, alleged seller D. Murugadas, and broker S. Anwardeen, who is accused of facilitating the transaction. Investigators are examining the roles of each accused while scrutinising land records, registration documents, and financial transactions linked to the deal.
The legal proceedings also gathered momentum in recent weeks. On July 17, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court granted interim bail to Justin Manikandan until August 4. After the interim protection expired, he approached the court seeking anticipatory bail. However, the court dismissed his plea on Wednesday, paving the way for his arrest. Acting swiftly, CB-CID officers tracked him down and arrested him near Silver Cascade Falls in Kodaikanal on Thursday.
Officials believe several crucial government records and registration documents remain under examination as part of the ongoing investigation. The agency is also trying to determine whether additional individuals, including public officials or members of an organised network, played any role in the alleged fraudulent transfer of the temple property.
Investigators are continuing to question the arrested accused to establish the complete sequence of events and identify any wider conspiracy behind the alleged land fraud. Officials indicated that further arrests could follow if fresh evidence emerges during the course of the investigation. The case has also renewed concerns over the protection of properties belonging to religious institutions and the transparency of land registration procedures involving temple assets in Tamil Nadu.
