The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 19 persons over the alleged illegal registration of properties belonging to a charitable trust established to support the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple and Alagarkoil, as reported in The Hindu.
HR&CE Minister S. Ramesh said the fraud came to light after it was discovered that trust properties measuring 1.79 acres had been fraudulently registered in 2021. The properties have a guideline value of ₹20 crore to ₹30 crore, while their estimated market value is around ₹60 crore.
The FIR was filed based on a complaint lodged by K. Chelladurai, Executive Officer of the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple. “We will retrieve the properties through legal means,” the minister said.
Trust Property Allegedly Transferred Illegally
According to the minister, the Pudukkottai Rajakumarar Dakshinamoorthy Durairaja Durairani Trust was established in 1930. The trust owns Ashoka Vilas, a bungalow on Alagarkoil Road in Madurai, along with an adjoining garden. Under the terms of the trust deed, the property could only be rented out, with no provision permitting its sale or mortgage.
The alleged irregularities came to the government’s attention after anti-corruption organisation Arappor Iyakkam flagged the suspected illegal sale of the trust properties, which were endowed to support various religious services at the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple.
According to the complaint, the title to the trust property on Hakkeem Ajamalkhan Road was allegedly removed and transferred to nine individuals after the Tahsildar of Madurai North issued pattas in their names on 24 June 2016.
Following the discovery, the concerned Village Administrative Officer (VAO) was suspended, departmental action was initiated against the Tahsildar, and the matter was referred to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC).
Despite Warning, Property Was Registered
The Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), Madurai, subsequently set aside the Tahsildar’s order and directed that the patta be restored in the name of the temple. However, a petition challenging the order was filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on 22 March 2021, following which the court granted an interim stay.
The HR&CE Department stated that it had written to both the Sokkikulam Sub-Registrar and the Madurai District Registrar, directing them not to register any property belonging to the temple.
Despite these communications, the individuals who had obtained pattas allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy and registered the property at the Murappanadu Sub-Registrar’s Office in Tirunelveli district on 4 April 2021, according to the complaint.
The temple’s Executive Officer has sought action against the revenue officials who allegedly failed to inform the temple authorities about the registration, as well as against all individuals involved in the alleged illegal transfer of the trust property.
The police have now registered an FIR against 19 persons, and further investigation into the alleged land registration fraud is underway.
Deeply appreciate the positive action of Shri @RameshOffcl Minister for @tnhrcedept in carrying out an investigation on a complaint lodged by Arappor Iyakkam.
The complaint was about fraudulent registration of properties worth Rs. 60 Crores belonging to Sri Meenakshi… pic.twitter.com/vyRIS4jfL0
— trramesh (@trramesh) July 28, 2026
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