Advocate S. Anwardeen (65), one of the key accused in the alleged fraudulent registration of 1.40 acres of land belonging to the Dhandayuthapani Swamy Mutt in Palani, valued at around Rs. 100 crore, died at Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai late on August 7 while in judicial remand.
Sources say Anwardeen was paralysed and was given a wheelchair. He had been staying in the prison hospital since his admission.
It is learnt that the CB-CID, which is probing the case, took him into custody for three days from August 6. After the last day of custody, he was brought back to the prison around 6 pm on August 7. Due to high blood pressure, he was re-admitted to the prison hospital. Around 9.30 pm on Friday night, he developed cardiac issues and was taken to GRH around 10 pm, where he died around 10.40 pm. Earlier in the day, the Judicial Magistrate Court in Dindigul dismissed his bail petition.
Based on a complaint lodged by the temple administration, the police registered a case against Sub-Registrar Justin Manikandan, Murugadas, a school teacher from Villupuram, Vellathurai of Tiruppur district, and Sethupathi of Palani. After the case was transferred to the CB-CID, the agency arrested 11 persons.
According to the police, Anwardeen was one of the main accused and had allegedly colluded with Justin Manikandan and Jayaprakash in the fraudulent registration of the property.
But நீங்க நம்பனும் தூயசக்தினு… pic.twitter.com/g8LeM6HVng
— Senthil (@Senthilvel79) August 8, 2026
Hindu Munnani, in a post on X, demanded a judicial probe into the mysterious death of Advocate Anwardeen, alleging attempts to protect the key persons in the case.
சிறைச்சாலையில் மர்ம மரணம்!!
பழனி நில மோசடி வழக்கில் கைது செய்யப்பட்ட வழக்கறிஞர் அன்வர்தீன் மர்ம மரணம் !
முக்கிய குற்றவாளிகளை மறைக்க சதி நடந்துள்ளதா ?
உரிய நீதி விசாரணை வேண்டும்!!@CMOTamilnadu @tnpoliceoffl #PalaniLandScam #PrisonDeath #Anwardeen #TVKGovt #HinduMunnani pic.twitter.com/QCKMnY8bKY
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) August 8, 2026
Hindu Munnani had alleged that Anwardeen, who was closely associated with the DMK legal wing, was the mastermind behind the illegal transaction and had been handling litigation relating to the property for several years.
After the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court Justice K. Rajasekar dismissed his anticipatory bail petition on August 5, CB-CID officials arrested him, as he was evading arrest and hiding in a house at Kodaikanal, on August 6.
As a routine, he was taken to hospital for a medical check-up on the same day. He complained of chest pain and dizziness. He was subsequently admitted to the hospital on Thursday night.
On August 7, Judicial Magistrate No. I, Dindigul, Bhakyaraj, visited the hospital, verified that Justin Manikandan was undergoing treatment, and formally remanded him in judicial custody till August 21.
Along with Justin Manikandan, authorities suspended Dindigul District Registrar Sasikala in this case as well. Sub-Registrar Balachandar and his office assistant, Sivasankari, were placed under suspension following fresh findings in the investigation.
Balachandar, who was transferred from Tiruppur to the Palani sub-registrar’s office in the first week of June 2026, had kept the registration of the mutt land pending after raising objections to the transaction. However, during his leave, Justin Manikandan, temporarily posted to the office, allegedly registered the sale deed without carrying out the mandatory scrutiny of the documents.
On July 13, the HR&CE Department filed a complaint with the Palani Adivaram police station regarding the sale of 1.40 acres of land, valued at Rs. 100 crore, owned by Dhandapani Swami Mutt in Palani.
They claimed the land was reportedly sold to two private individuals — Sethupathi and Vellaithurai — despite several objections from the HR&CE Department.
The land was temporarily used as a parking lot for devotees visiting the Lord Dhandayudapani Temple in Palani.
Sub-Registrar Justin Manikandan was suspended by the Registration Department over the issue.
During the hearing of Justin’s anticipatory bail petition, the CB-CID said he had colluded with Jayaprakash and advocate Anwardeen in executing the fraudulent registration of the temple property.
Eight persons, including Jayaprakash’s wife Senbagamathi, were brought to Dindigul from Palani for questioning. Sub-Registrar Balasundar had recorded in the minutes book that the temple authorities had filed a writ appeal challenging the court direction for the registration of the document.
Despite this, Justin Manikandan allegedly went ahead and completed the registration process by assigning a document number and sold the temple land to two private parties.
Opposition parties and the public say that “the death of one of the accused in the temple land case and hospitalisation of the Sub-Registrar who undertook the registration process on the same day raises suspicions. The government should reveal the truth.” Political parties plan to raise the issue in the State Legislature.
