FIR against 19 for illegal registration of trust properties meant for Meenakshi Amman temple
Police have registered an FIR against 19 individuals for the illegal registration and sale of trust properties belonging to the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple. The HR&CE Department is seeking to reclaim the assets, which were allegedly transferred fraudulently in 2016.
Why it matters
The case underscores issues of corruption and the protection of religious endowments, which are significant cultural and financial assets in India.
Illegal registration of properties belonging to a trust established to serve the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple and Alagarkoil has come to light, with the police registering a First Information Report (FIR) against 19 persons based on a complaint lodged by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.
S. Ramesh, Minister for the HR&CE Department, on Monday (July 27, 2026) told The Hindu the properties measuring 1.79 acres had been fraudulently registered in 2021. He said their guideline value was between ₹20 crore and ₹30 crore, while their market value was estimated at around ₹60 crore. The FIR was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by K. Chelladurai, Executive Officer of the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple.
“We will retrieve the properties through legal means,” he said
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