The Tamil Nadu government has suspended Deputy Collector-rank officer Anbalagan following his arrest in connection with the alleged fraudulent transfer of property worth around ₹60 crore, belonging to a trust associated with the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and Alagarkoil, to private individuals. Anbalagan was serving as Personal Assistant (Land) to the Ramanathapuram District Collector at the time of his arrest by the Madurai City Police.
How the Suspension Came About
The Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration (CRA), Chennai, issued the suspension order on August 10. The order was sent by email to the Madurai revenue administration and subsequently served on Anbalagan through prison officials at Madurai Central Jail on Tuesday. He was taken to Rajaji Government Hospital for a medical examination that morning, and the suspension notice was reportedly handed to him later that evening.
The Alleged Land Transfer While Serving as Tahsildar
According to police, Anbalagan was serving as Madurai North Tahsildar when he allegedly removed the temple's ownership from revenue records and transferred the patta in favour of Ramaayi Ayyar and eight others on June 24, 2016. This alleged alteration effectively placed trust property in the names of private individuals — a fundamental change that stripped the temple of its recorded ownership.
The case originated from a complaint filed by Chellathurai, Joint Commissioner and Executive Officer of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. The Madurai City Central Crime Branch registered an FIR on July 25, based on allegations that 19 people had conspired to illegally transfer the trust property through fraudulent patta mutation, registration of documents, and mortgage-related transactions. Investigators are now examining exactly how the revenue records were altered and whether the alleged transfer was backed by fraudulent documents or other irregularities.
A Century-Old Will That Established Trust Ownership
Police investigation found that a will registered at the Saidapet Sub-Registrar's Office back in 1930 identifies the Ashoka Vilas Bungalow and its adjoining garden on Alagarkoil Road in Madurai as property belonging to a trust established specifically to serve the temples. The conditions in this will reportedly placed clear restrictions on how the property could be handled — it could be leased out, but it could never be sold, mortgaged, or transferred to another party.
Despite these long-standing restrictions, the alleged patta transfer was carried out in 2016, according to police. Once this irregular transfer came to light, the temple administration approached the district administration and formally raised objections over the ownership recorded in the revenue documents.
Property Restored to the Temple
Following the alleged illegal transfer, former Village Administrative Officer Arasan was suspended, and departmental action along with an inquiry by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption was also recommended against Anbalagan.
Subsequently, the Revenue Divisional Officer cancelled the order issued by the then Tahsildar and ruled that the disputed property belonged to the trust associated with the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and Alagarkoil. The authority directed that the patta be restored in the temple's name — effectively reversing the disputed revenue entry that had placed the property in private hands. The temple administration has since regained the property's recorded ownership in official revenue records.
The Arrest and What Comes Next
Anbalagan was arrested by the Madurai City Police on August 4, following the FIR's registration on July 25. His suspension followed the arrest, coming while the criminal investigation remained underway. The Central Crime Branch has so far arrested four people in connection with the case over the past ten days.
Investigators continue to examine the alleged fraudulent patta transfer, document registration, and any attempts to mortgage or otherwise deal with the trust property, while also looking into the alleged role of other individuals named in the complaint. The suspension marks administrative action against Anbalagan running alongside the ongoing criminal proceedings — though it's worth noting that the allegations against him and the other accused remain subject to investigation and judicial scrutiny, and cannot be treated as proven until established before a court.
FAQs
Q1. What is Anbalagan accused of in this case?
Anbalagan is accused of removing the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple trust's ownership from revenue records and fraudulently transferring the patta to private individuals in 2016, while serving as Madurai North Tahsildar.
Q2. What did the 1930 will establish about the disputed property?
The 1930 will identified the property as belonging to a trust serving the temples and restricted it from being sold, mortgaged, or transferred, though it could be leased out.
Q3. Has the property been restored to the temple?