Joseph Vijay’s TVK government Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister Ramesh has denied allegations linking him to the alleged illegal registration of a ₹100 crore property belonging to the Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Mutt at the foothills of Palani, while warning of legal action against those spreading what he described as false information, as reported in Tamil ABP Live.
The clarification comes after allegations surfaced claiming that relatives of Minister Ramesh had purchased the disputed temple land and that the minister himself was connected to the transaction.
HR&CE Department Already Initiated Action, Says Minister
In a statement, Minister Ramesh said the HR&CE Department had already initiated departmental proceedings and police investigations after private individuals allegedly registered the temple property illegally.
According to the minister, the department acted immediately after the illegal registration came to light.
Repeated Warnings Allegedly Sent To Sub-Registrar’s Office
Ramesh further claimed that, since litigation over the property was already pending, the Palani Joint Commissioner had repeatedly written to the Sub-Registrar’s Office, instructing officials not to register the land regardless of who sought the registration.
He said these communications had clearly warned registration authorities against processing any transaction involving the disputed property.
Minister Alleges Political Smear Campaign
The minister alleged that despite the government’s swift legal and departmental action, certain political party-affiliated social media pages and sections of the media were spreading false information to tarnish his reputation for political reasons.
Rejecting allegations that the accused were his relatives or that the transaction took place with his knowledge, Ramesh asserted that he had “not even the slightest connection” to the alleged land fraud.
He further said a complaint had been lodged with the police against individuals and social media accounts circulating the allegations and warned that strict legal action would be initiated against those who had spread, or continue to spread, what he described as fake news.
#JUSTIN அமைச்சர் ரமேஷ் குறித்த வதந்தி – பாயும் வழக்கு#MinisterRamesh #Palani #Temple #LandIssue #News18Tamilnadu | https://t.co/3v5L32pLWJ pic.twitter.com/3OoyyT1zJJ
— News18 Tamil Nadu (@News18TamilNadu) July 14, 2026
Promotion Of Palani Joint Commissioner Raises Fresh Questions
Even as the minister denied any connection to the controversy, fresh questions have emerged over the promotion of Marimuthu, who was serving as the Joint Commissioner of the Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, within days of the disputed land registration.
Documents available in the public domain indicate that the alleged registration of the temple land was completed on 6 July while a government order dated July 9 promoted Marimuthu as Joint Commissioner/Executive Officer in the HR&CE Department and transferred him to Chennai.
This has led to a series of questions regarding the timing of the promotion.
If Marimuthu was the HR&CE official responsible for protecting the Palani Temple’s properties and pursuing legal action to safeguard temple assets, why was he promoted and transferred immediately after the disputed registration?
What explains the urgency in moving the officer out of Palani within days of the alleged transfer of a ₹100 crore temple property?
If the minister maintains that he had no knowledge of the disputed land registration, was he also unaware of the promotion of a senior Joint Commissioner serving under his own department? If the promotion was approved through the department, who authorised it, and what was the basis for issuing the transfer order at that particular time?
The timing has also prompted questions about whether the officer responsible for protecting the temple’s interests should have remained in Palani until the alleged fraud was fully investigated and the property recovery process initiated.
The developments have also triggered questions over whether the investigation is being narrowed to the role of the suspended Sub-Registrar, while the actions and decisions of other officials involved during the relevant period remain under scrutiny.
பழனி முருகன் கோவில் 100 கோடி ரூபாய் சொத்து விவகாரத்தில் சிக்கிய அமைச்சர் ரமேஷ் “நான் வழக்கு போடுவேன்” என்று மிரட்டலுக்கு என் பதில் – எங்கே போடு பார்க்கலாம்… அதுக்கு முன்பு மக்கள் கேள்விக்கு பதில் சொல்லு மேன்..
பழனி கோவில் இணை ஆணையராக இருந்த மாரிமுத்துக்கு – இந்து அற… pic.twitter.com/dGohhGZa2y
— Maridhas (@MaridhasAnswers) July 14, 2026
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
