Madras High Court invalidates Rs 100 crore Palani temple land registration

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court set aside the registration of a 1.4‑acre parcel worth about ₹100 crore belonging to the Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple. The land had been recorded in the names of two private individuals after a single judge ordered the sub‑registrar to register the sale deed, despite objections from the temple mutt and pending civil suits. The division bench ruled the registration invalid, describing it as a fraud that ignored the mutt’s rights.

Following the court’s order, the sub‑registrar who processed the deed was suspended, and the state government launched an investigation. Ministers gave conflicting accounts of how the registration occurred, while opposition leaders accused the administration of corruption. The Crime Branch‑CID has taken over the probe, and police have intensified questioning of officials involved. The controversy has sparked a political storm over alleged misuse of temple property, which was reportedly sold for a fraction of its value.