Latest news with #Chandrasenan
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Time of India
Kowdiar land grab case: Accused person's kin moves Kerala HC seeking pre-arrest bail
Kochi: Anil Thampi, a Thiruvananthapuram-based businessman, has approached high court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the alleged Kowdiar land grab case, involving property valued at approximately Rs 4.5 crore. The bench of Justice Kauser Edappagath sought instructions from the state on the plea and adjourned the matter to Aug 19. According to prosecution, first accused Ananthapuri Manikantan, a DCC member and land broker, allegedly grabbed 14 cents of land along with a 10-room, three-storeyed house located at Jawahar Nagar at Kowdiar, Thiruvananthapuram. The property belongs to Dora Asariya Crips, an Indian-origin doctor currently residing in the USA. It is alleged that forged documents were used and that a woman named Vasantha impersonated Crips to facilitate the fraudulent transaction. Subsequently, Manikantan is said to have sold the property to one Chandrasenan of Kanjirampara in Thiruvananthapuram, the fourth accused. Thampi allegedly transferred Rs 1.45 crore to Manikantan's account on behalf of Chandrasenan, who is his father-in-law, to facilitate the purchase. Manikantan was later arrested by the police from Bengaluru on July 29. In his petition, Thampi apprehended his arrest in connection with the case. While the police claim that Thampi conspired with the other accused to illegally acquire the property, he denies any involvement. He alleged that his business rivals and enemies are using the case as an opportunity to harass him. The petition also notes that Chandrasenan, the fourth accused, has already been granted pre-arrest bail by sessions court, Thiruvananthapuram.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Time of India
Kowdiar land grab case: Dispute among accused exposed property fraud
T'puram: Police team investigating Kowdiar land grab case said that the key accused Ananthapuri Manikantan, 50, informed them that the mastermind of the fraud was Anil Thampi, 44, of Kowdiar. He also revealed that financial disputes among the accused led to the exposure of the fraud. The crime was executed after 10 years of planning and Manikantan provided all assistance to Thampi in acquiring the land by forging documents, police said. Thampi lives near the property and was aware that the owner of the property Dora Asariya Crips is settled in the US. Thampi, earlier, approached the caretaker of the house, expressing interest in the property. However, Dora was not willing to sell it and the accused somehow managed to acquire all the documents through forgery. He then got it registered in the name of Merin, another accused in the case. Later, it was 'sold' to Sasthamangalam native and Thampi's father-in-law Chandrasenan, 62. Police said that Thampi and Chandrasenan could not provide proof of the money paid despite claiming it was bought for Rs 1.5 crore. However, Chandrasenan told the police that he followed the directions of Thampi and was unaware of any other details. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mobile Plans for Businesses (Floor Prices) Business Mobile | Search Ads Undo Manikantan told probe team that another accused in the case, Amruth Nath Paul had a dispute with them later over sharing the money after registering the property in Chandrasenan's name. It was Paul who exposed the crime, police said. Museum police on Wednesday submitted a custody application before chief judicial magistrate court to question Manikantan. Meanwhile, court remanded him in judicial custody for 14
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Time of India
Land scam: Key accused arrested
T'puram: A police team on Tuesday morning took into custody the key accused in the Kowdiar land grab case from a five-star hotel in Bengaluru's Majestic area. Ananthapuri Manikantan, 50, a vendor and former Congress district committee member, had been staying at the hotel for the past six days, police said. Manikantan, the alleged mastermind behind the crime, is being brought back to Thiruvananthapuram by car and is expected to arrive by midnight. The case involves the illegal transfer and sale of land owned by a US resident. Forged documents were used to seize the property, which was then sold for Rs 1.5 crore. Copies of the property's title deed were seized from Manikandan's office, who is accused of orchestrating the fraud with five others. So far, Merin Jacob, 27, of Punalur; Vasantha, 76, of Karakulam; Chandrasenan, 60, of Sasthamangalam and Mahesh C.A., 47, of Puthankotta have been arrested. Mahesh, Manikantan's brother, was arrested after police found that Rs 14 lakh towards registration fees and stamp duty for the land sale had been paid using his vendor licence. Chandrasenan's son-in-law, Anil Thampi, another accused in the case remains absconding. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Translation of all Languages Translation of all Languages | Search Ads Search Now Undo Vasantha posed as Dora Asariya Crips, the actual owner of the land, and transferred it to Merin, who acted as Dora's stepdaughter. The land was later 'sold' to Chandrasenan, who allegedly paid nothing for it. His role is under suspicion and he claimed he acted under the direction of Thampi. The method used to forge the land documents remains unclear. "By questioning Manikantan, we hope to uncover how the fraud was executed and identify any additional accomplices," said a police officer.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kowdiar land grab case: Police arrest brother of key accused
T'puram: Museum police probing the Kowdiar land grab case arrested the brother of the key accused after discovering that an amount was paid to the treasury for property registration using his vendor licence. Mahesh C A, 47, son of Chandrasekharan Nair of Ganapathy Bhadra House at MR Hills near Puthancotta at Attukal, was arrested after it was found that Rs 14 lakh was paid to the treasury using his vendor licence to buy e-stamp and also as a registration fee. Meanwhile, a lookout notice was issued against the key accused, Ananthapuri Manikantan, who is absconding. He was the district committee member of the Congress party and also a vendor. The district leadership suspended him from the party on Monday following his involvement in the fraud. By forging the documents, the accused snatched a land at Kowdiar, and sold it later to Sasthamangalam native Chandrasenan, 60. The actual owner of the property, Dora Asariya Crips, is settled in America. In her absence, Karakulam native Vasantha, 76, posed as Dora and registered the land to Merin, 27, of Punalur. Merin posed as the stepdaughter of Dora. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Amazon's Hottest Selling Hearing Aid is Back on Sale Hear True Learn More Undo Later, Merin sold the land to Chandrasenan for Rs 1.5cr. Merin, Vasantha and Mahesh have been arrested so far in the case. They claimed that they acted as per the direction of Manikantan. "Except for paying the amount in the treasury, no payment was made between Chandrasenan and Merin or any of the accused. Chandrasenan is also not cooperating with the probe as he has not presented the original deed of the document but he still claims that the money was paid. He failed to produce any proof to substantiate the claim. Only after arresting Manikantan clear picture of the fraud will be known, and we have intensified the search for him," police said. Meanwhile, the sessions court rejected the pre-arrest bail plea of Manikantan but granted bail to Chandrasenan considering his age.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Time of India
No payment: Details emerge in Kowdiar land scam
Thiruvananthapuram: The police investigation into the Kowdiar land grab case revealed that the purported buyer, Chandrasenan of Sathamangalam, paid no money despite the property being registered in his name. The land, originally owned by US resident Dora Asariya Cripps, was illegally transferred to one of the accused in the case Merin Jacob, 27, of Punalur, who falsely claimed to be Cripps' adopted daughter, before being 'sold' to Chandrasenan. Two arrests have been made so far: Merin Jacob and Vasantha, 76, of Karakulam, who impersonated Cripps during the fraudulent registration. Chandrasenan, initially claiming to have paid Rs 2 crore, was exposed when bank records showed no such transaction. He admitted to acting on behalf of his absconding son-in-law, Anil Thampi, who allegedly cited 'income tax issues' for using Chandrasenan's name. Investigators now believe Chandrasenan and Thampi were complicit in the scheme masterminded by Ananthapuri Manikandan, a Congress district committee member and vendor. Copies of the property's title deed were seized from Manikandan's office, but he remains at large. The gang allegedly exploited Cripps' absence from India, assuming she would never discover the fraud. The crime came to light when a relative attempted to pay property taxes. The sessions court denied pre-arrest bail to Manikandan but granted it to Chandrasenan due to his age. "Further details of the case are expected to emerge once Manikandan is taken into custody," said a police officer.
