A shocking land grab scandal in Thiruvananthapuram’s elite Jawaharnagar has led to the arrest of Sasthamangalam Sub-Registrar KS Lakshmi, marking a critical turn in the investigation. Valued at Rs 4.5 crore, the fraud involved counterfeit papers to seize a 14.5-cent plot and home from absentee owner Dora.
The modus operandi was cunning: crooks first pledged the asset to Merin Jacob, posing her as Dora’s adopted child. It was then flipped to Chandrasenan through a sham deed. Lakshmi, the ninth suspect, allegedly facilitated the registrations with phony IDs and off-site signatures to dodge detection.
Deeper probes uncovered her taking kickbacks—Rs 10 lakh cash and 10 phones—from ringleader Anantapuri Manikandan. Witnesses on the fake document included Manikandan, Syed Ali, Sunil Thomas, and Anil Thambi.
Lakshmi’s early alibi of due diligence crumbled under digital forensics. She had faced a show-cause notice earlier, her report tilting towards the kingpin.
This exposé reveals a syndicate exploiting registration loopholes for high-stakes heists. Questioning Lakshmi could unravel more links in Kerala’s burgeoning property crime wave. Officials vow thorough cleanup, but experts demand tech upgrades like blockchain for tamper-proof records.
Kerala’s realty sector, long plagued by such scams, faces renewed scrutiny. Victims like Dora exemplify how overseas owners become easy targets. With this bust, authorities aim to dismantle the network, restoring faith in one of the state’s key economic pillars.