Ranipet panchayat president arrested over alleged unpaid land proceeds

Police in Ranipet district arrested the president of Peruvalam panchayat on Wednesday over allegations that he failed to return most of the money received from the sale of a farmer’s land. The arrested person was identified as R. Kumaresan, a local functionary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

He is the president of Peruvalam village panchayat under the Nemili panchayat union. Police said the complainant, B. Munusamy, was a farmer from neighbouring Seruvalayam village.

Munusamy owned 40 cents of land, equivalent to about 17,500 square feet, and had decided to sell it at the prevailing market price. According to the initial inquiry, Kumaresan entered into an agreement with Munusamy to find prospective buyers for the property. The land was later sold for ₹25 lakh.

Munusamy told police that Kumaresan gave him only about ₹5 lakh instead of the full sale proceeds. He also alleged that Kumaresan threatened him when he sought the balance. Nemili police registered a case and arrested Kumaresan after an investigation.

He was lodged at Central Prison in Vellore. The allegations have not been tested in court, and the source material does not state Kumaresan’s response to the complaint. It also does not identify the buyers or provide details of the agreement between the two men.

The investigation remains under way. Police have not disclosed whether the remaining money was recovered, whether additional evidence was seized, or whether further people would be questioned in connection with the property transaction.