Palani Mutt land dispute prompts AIADMK protest and CBI probe demand

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced a large protest in Palani, Tamil Nadu, on 25 July, calling for a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the alleged illegal registration of land belonging to the historic Palani Mutt. He said the property, valued at roughly Rs 100 crore, was fraudulently transferred to two private individuals through forged documents, and that the state‑run CB‑CID probe lacks credibility. Palaniswami alleged that a sub‑registrar from a distant office was temporarily transferred to complete the registration, indicating a wider conspiracy. The protest will be led by senior AIADMK leader D. C. Srinivasan and supported by party cadres.

Separately, the chairman of Palani municipality filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking a CBI probe into the same land deal. The petition asserts that 1.4 acres of mutt land, originally donated in 1988 for the mutt’s upkeep, was illegally registered in the names of K Vellathurai and D Sethupathi in March 2026. It highlights the involvement of a temporary sub‑registrar from Kodaikanal, the undervaluation of the property (sold for Rs 2 crore), and alleged links of the buyers to two ministers. The case has been listed before Justice L. Victoria Gowri for further proceedings.