Real estate business has become an avocation to make quick money: Madras High Court

CBI probe ordered into murder of Madurai-based businessman

October 21, 2014 09:28 am | Updated May 23, 2016 04:14 pm IST - MADURAI:

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday lamented that real estate business had become a vulnerable and easy avocation for land-grabbers, brokers and criminals to make quick money.

Ordering a CBI enquiry into the murder of Madurai-based businessman K. Jamal Mohamed in June, Justice N. Kirubakaran said that “the dangerous and brutal face of ‘real estate’ business is exhibited in this case.” He observed that the case only “speaks about what is happening in the real estate business for more than a decade. In the case, the victim, main accused and some other accused have been in real estate business.’’

“It also proves another important fact about entry of criminals into politics’’, he said.

The main accused, Sithik alias Mohammed Sithik, who kidnapped and murdered K. Jamal Mohamed (whose body was found in Kodaikanal on June 8) along with others, is the district president of Tamizhaga Makkal Jananayaka Katchi and his political office was used to detain the victim.

“Similarly, another accused, Abbas alias Karadi Abbas, is the south zone secretary of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). Accused Marimuthu is in charge of Anaiyur locality in Madurai for Naam Tamilar Katchi (led by film actor-director Seeman). The antecedents of the above accused would show that they are involved in commission of offences. If such criminals enter into political parties and become local leaders, the police cannot go near them easily for interrogation as they create law and order problem using their political clout.” The judge said the deceased was the managing trustee of K.M. Allauddin Rowther Dharma Trust which owned extensive properties in and around Madurai.

Jamal Mohamed had a dispute with one G. Ganesan with respect to ownership of 1.64 acres of land, worth over Rs.30 crore, at Arapalayam here. Even as the issue was being contested in various courts, Mr. Mohamed went missing on August 31 and his body was found near Perumal Malai in Kodaikanal after the surrender of one of the accused in a Melur court near here on June 6.

High Court seeks details of real estate crimes

The Madras High Court Bench here has directed Home Secretary and Director General of Police to submit by October 27 year-wise and district-wise details of crimes committed in connection with real estate transactions in the State in the last 10 years.

Justice N. Kirubakaran passed the order on a petition filed by Jainab Beevi, wife of K. Jamal Mohamed who was abducted from Madurai and murdered at Kodaikanal, seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of her husband in September.

The judge also directed the Home Secretary and the DGP to answer six more queries: How many murders and kidnappings in particular were committed in the last 10 years with regard to real estate transactions (year-wise and district-wise details should be given)?

How many cases of land grabbing and forging of land documents have been filed in the last 10 years (year-wise and district-wise details to be given)? Whether organised gangs or katta panchayat (kangaroo court) groups are involved in land grabbing and committing offences relating to real estate?

Whether government lands are grabbed by land sharks in connivance with the officials as part of real estate business?

Why not government sensitise the general public and land owners and purchasers, in particular, to the precautions to be taken while dealing with properties?

Has it not become the need of the hour to device a mechanism or system by the government to regulate real estate transactions?

“As offences relating to real estate have risen in the past 10 to 15 years and absolutely there is no mechanism to regulate the real estate dealings, the above details are necessary to pass appropriate orders,” the judge added.

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