Tiruchirapalli: A local DMK functionary was arrested in connection with a multi-crore land fraud case involving property belonging to the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, police said on Friday. M Ramkumar, the DMK Srirangam area secretary, was intercepted by a special team from the City Crime Branch (CCB) near Panjapur on the Tiruchi-Madurai highway on October 1.
Police sources said he was en route to Madurai to attend a hearing for his anticipatory bail plea.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court dismissed the bail petition later in the day, after which Ramkumar was remanded to judicial custody.
According to the police, the CCB registered a case on September 13 against Ramkumar and five others, including former Srirangam sub-registrar Vanitha.
The First Information Report (FIR) was filed based on a complaint lodged by temple Joint Commissioner S Sivaramkumar.
The accused allegedly used forged documents in 2022 to illegally grab a 7,515 sq ft parcel of temple land, valued at approximately Rs 50 crore. An office for the DMK was reportedly constructed on the disputed site.
Ramkumar and the co-accused face charges under multiple provisions, including cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu HR&CE Minister C Ramesh assured strict action and claimed that the fraudulent misappropriation of the temple’s land occurred during the previous regime.
“Following continuous complaints from local Srirangam residents, an inquiry established prima facie evidence, leading the temple administration to lodge a formal police complaint. Consequently, an FIR was registered. The accused’s attempt to quash the FIR was withdrawn after the court refused to entertain the plea, and a subsequent anticipatory bail petition was dismissed after three days of judicial review,” the minister told reporters.
According to the minister, the accused feigned chest pain following his arrest in an attempt to evade remand.
“However, thorough medical examinations confirmed his physical fitness, and he was subsequently remanded to judicial custody,” he added.
When asked about the alleged involvement of high-profile people, including a retired judge, the minister maintained that the police investigation is proceeding step-by-step.
He affirmed that anyone found complicit in the conspiracy would face severe legal action without exception.
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