DMK functionary arrested in alleged Srirangam temple land fraud

The Tiruchi City Crime Branch has arrested N. Ramkumar, a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam functionary, in connection with an alleged fraud involving land belonging to the Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy temple. Police arrested Ramkumar on Thursday after registering a case against him and five others on September 13.

The case followed a complaint by S. Sivaramkumar, the temple’s Joint Commissioner and Executive Officer. The accused include the then Sub-Registrar of Srirangam, according to the case details.

The Crime Branch alleges that Ramkumar and the other accused entered into a criminal conspiracy connected with the land transaction during 2022 and 2023. According to the allegations, more than 7,000 square feet of temple land in Srirangam was illegally registered in Ramkumar’s name using forged documents. The land is reportedly valued at more than ₹50 crore.

Police allege that four private individuals who claimed ownership of the property used the forged documents to register it in Ramkumar’s name. The amount received in the alleged transfer was reported to be more than ₹2 crore. Ramkumar is the DMK’s Srirangam area secretary.

His arrest was carried out by a Crime Branch team headed by an inspector, police sources said. The case has been registered under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code. The source material does not provide details of the specific sections invoked or any response from Ramkumar, the other accused or the DMK.

The arrest does not determine the guilt of the accused. Police said further investigation was under way into the alleged use of forged records and the registration of the temple property. The case concerns the ownership and transfer of land linked to the temple, but the material does not state whether the registration has been cancelled or whether the property has been recovered.