PALANI: The state registration department on Monday suspended sub-registrar Justin Manikandan in connection with the alleged fraudulent registration of a parcel of 1.4acre land worth around Rs 100 crore belonging to the Arulmigu Dhandayudapani Swami Mutt in Palani in the names of two private individuals.“As of now we have placed him under suspension. Inquiries are being carried out. We will decide on further course of action based on the outcome,” said minister for commercial taxes and registration D Logesh Tamilselvan. The disputed property, located at the foothills of the Palani temple, has been at the centre of a legal battle over the past few days. The parcel land is situated in ward no. 3 of Palani town and corresponds to the erstwhile survey nos. 998 and 999. According to the representation, it was dedicated to the mutt through a charitable settlement deed executed in 1888. The deed states that the property was intended exclusively for the maintenance of the mutt, conduct of religious activities and service to devotees and could not be sold or transferred as private property.Now, it is being used as a parking lot for devotees who visit the Dhandayudapani temple. The complainant alleged that a group had fabricated the documents and falsely claimed rights over the property. The temple administration maintained that it belonged to the Dhandapani Swami Mutt and that multiple court orders prohibited its alienation. The administration of the mutt also urged the inspector general of registration to cancel the registration of a sale deed alleging that the transaction had been carried out in violation of multiple court orders and despite repeated objections from the temple administration.Meanwhile, the Palani Adivaram police registered an FIR and launched an investigation into the fraudulent registration of the land. The FIR was registered based on the complaint by a trustee of the mutt. “We have registered cases under five sections for cheating, forgery and other sections of BNS. A team led by Adivaram police inspector Kavitha and a sub-inspector visited the Palani sub-registrar’s office and examined the circumstances under which the sale deed was registered. They also questioned officials and staff of the registration department and scrutinised documents connected to the transaction,” said a police officer.They sought additional records relevant to the transaction and said further legal action would be taken after examining the documents. The temple administration on Friday filed a complaint at the Palani Adivaram police station against four persons. The complaint alleged that the parcel of land belonging to the mutt had been illegally registered in favour of private individuals in violation of court orders.Meanwhile the registration department said it would not be able to cancel a registered deed. “We are waiting for police reports. Following this, we will take action,” said a senior official.
