CBI Probe Demanded Over Alleged Land Fraud at Palani Temple Properties

Legal Action Against State-Led Investigation

K.S.N. Venugopalu Senapathi, an AIADMK member and former legislator for Palani, approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday. His public interest litigation petition calls for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over an inquiry into the fraudulent registration of valuable math land situated at Palani Adivaram. Senapathi, who previously served as a trustee for the Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple between 2004 and 2006, argues that the current state-level probe lacks the necessary independence to expose the full scope of the crime.

Allegations of Institutional Corruption

The petitioner claims the case involves a complex web of illegalities aimed at misappropriating temple property. The allegations include:

• Fraudulent execution and registration of deeds for immovable assets.
• Intentional manipulation of public records by government insiders.
• Abuse of official authority and criminal conspiracy.
• Illegal alienation of high-value land into the names of private individuals.

The investigation is currently managed by the CB-CID. However, Senapathi contends that because the suspects include Registration Department officials and potentially higher-ranking state figures, an agency under Tamil Nadu government control cannot provide a transparent result. He noted that despite the gravity of the charges, authorities have yet to make a single arrest.

Judicial Oversight and Future Proceedings

To ensure a credible outcome, the petitioner has requested that a retired High Court judge be appointed to monitor the progress of the investigation. He asserts that only an agency outside the state's hierarchy can effectively uncover the truth behind the attempted land grab. This legal challenge follows a similar writ petition filed by R. Uma Maheshwari Pradeep, the Palani Municipal chairperson, who is also seeking a CBI-led inquiry.

A Division Bench consisting of Justice C.V. Karthikeyan and Justice R. Sakthivel has scheduled the next hearing for the matter on July 30.

Source: The Hindu — Cities