THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major breakthrough in a multi-crore land scam rocking Kerala’s capital, authorities have arrested Sub-Registrar KS Lakshmi from Sasthamangalam. She becomes the ninth accused in this brazen plot involving forged documents to illegally transfer property worth Rs 4.5 crore.
The scam centers on a prime 14.5-cent plot and residential house in posh Jawaharnagar owned by Dora, who is currently abroad. Last January, fraudsters fabricated documents to first mortgage the property in the name of Merin Jacob from Manakkad Puthuparambu, falsely presenting her as Dora’s adopted daughter.
Subsequently, the property was sold via a fake sale deed to Chandrasenan from Maruthamkuzhi. Investigations reveal Lakshmi played a pivotal role in registering these bogus documents, providing crucial assistance to the accused. Fake ID proofs were submitted during registration, and signatures were suspiciously taken outside the sub-registrar’s office to evade scrutiny—allegedly under Lakshmi’s directions.
Police disclosures paint a picture of deep corruption. Lakshmi reportedly accepted Rs 10 lakh in bribes and 10 mobile phones from the gang’s mastermind, Anantapuri Manikandan. The forged sale deed lists Manikandan, Syed Ali, Sunil Thomas, and Anil Thambi (Chandrasenan’s son-in-law) as witnesses.
Initially, Lakshmi claimed she verified identities before registration. But cyber evidence dismantled her defense. The Registration Inspector General had already issued a show-cause notice post-scam exposure, with her submitted report suspiciously favoring Manikandan.
Interrogations continue, with police anticipating revelations of further transactions and accomplices in this organized land mafia operation. This arrest underscores systemic vulnerabilities in Kerala’s revenue department, prompting calls for stricter oversight and digital reforms to prevent such frauds.
The case highlights how public officials can enable property grabs, eroding trust in land records. As probes deepen, more arrests seem imminent, signaling a crackdown on real estate racketeering in the state.