THIRUVANANTHAPURAM UPDATE: The net tightens around a sophisticated Rs 4.5 crore property fraud in Kerala’s capital as Sub-Registrar KS Lakshmi of Sasthamangalam is taken into custody. Labeled the ninth accused, her involvement exposes rot within the revenue machinery.
At the heart is Jawaharnagar’s premium real estate: Dora’s 14.5-cent land and house, usurped last January via forged transfers. Posing Merin Jacob as the owner’s adopted daughter enabled a mortgage, followed by a bogus sale to Chandrasenan.
Lakshmi’s complicity shines through: she greenlit fake registrations, supplied aid, and orchestrated external signings. Bribes flowed—Rs 10 lakh and 10 mobiles—from gang boss Anantapuri Manikandan. The deed’s witnesses? Manikandan, Syed Ali, Sunil Thomas, and Anil Thambi.
Her claim of identity checks fell flat against cyber sleuthing. A prior show-cause notice highlighted bias in her report towards Manikandan.
Police eye broader revelations from her grilling, potentially naming more in this cartel-like operation. The scam’s unraveling spotlights urgent needs for reformed protocols, biometric verifications, and anti-corruption drives in land offices.
As Kerala grapples with rising encroachments on upscale properties, this case serves as a wake-up call. It threatens investor confidence and homeowner security, pushing for legislative fixes to seal exploitable gaps. Stay tuned for interrogation outcomes.