Police Launch Manhunt for Congress Leader in Thiruvananthapuram Land Grab Case

Rapid Summary

• The thiruvananthapuram City police are intensifying their search for Ananthapuri Manikandan, a District congress Committee (DCC) member, accused in the Kowdiar land grab case.
• Manikandan is alleged to have masterminded the illegal acquisition of property owned by Dora asariya Cripps, a U.S.resident,in Jawahar Nagar.
• two people-Merin Jacob (27) from Punalur and Vasantha (76) from Karakulam-were arrested for forging documents and selling the property worth ₹1.5 crore in January.
• Merin posed as Ms. Cripps’s adopted daughter while Vasantha’s physical resemblance to Ms. Cripps facilitated the scam.
• The police investigation implicates revenue officials and Chandrasenan, who purportedly purchased the property; though, Chandrasenan was granted anticipatory bail due to insufficient evidence of monetary transactions.
• The fraudulent transfer was discovered when the property’s caretaker attempted to pay taxes.
• Manikandan’s anticipatory bail plea has been rejected by court; he remains absconding with a lookout notice issued against him.

Indian opinion Analysis

The Kowdiar land grab case highlights vulnerabilities in India’s administrative systems concerning property registration and documentation processes-a matter of significant concern given rising land fraud across several states. Forgery involving high-value assets reflects how systemic loopholes can be exploited by individuals colluding with potentially compromised officials.

Police efforts to investigate possible involvement of revenue department personnel underline an urgent need for reforms in regulatory frameworks that oversee property transactions through local registrars’ offices nationwide.

This incident also brings political accountability into focus as one accused is affiliated with an established political party structure-the District Congress Committee-placing institutional trust at odds with criminal allegations.more broadly, continued scrutiny alongside strict legal enforcement could dissuade similar scams while restoring public confidence in law enforcement’s ability to address financial crimes effectively within India’s growing real estate sector.

Read more: Published – July 18, 2025 09:45 pm IST