Municipality Chief held for land grab

KODAIKANAL: Three persons, including Kodaikanal municipal council chairman Mohamed Ibrahim of the DMK, were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly usurping land belonging to a church. Five more persons, including senior police official P Sivanandi, formerly West Zone IG, Coimbatore, and present chief vigilance officer, SETC, Kumbakonam, are reportedly wanted in connection with the case.The property in question — Melvyn Cottage — is situated on a four-acre land on Malli Road in Naidupuram, Kodaikanal. The cottage, worth several crores of rupees, belonged to the Catholic Church and one John Rosen was its caretaker.A few months ago, Ibrahim, Sivanandi, Palanichamy of Dindigul and land brokers  Sekar Sebastine, Ruban, Daleep Singh and Govindan of Kodaikanal allegedly threatened Rosen and usurped the property. Subsequently, Rosen sent a complaint to the President.Ibrahim, Sebastine and Singh were arrested in this connection on Tuesday.They were taken to the Thandikudi police station, 35 km from here, and interrogated for six hours.Later, the trio was produced before the Kodaikanal court and judicial magistrate Murthy remanded them in custody till July 26.The inclusion of senior police official Sivanandi among the wanted has sent shock waves among the political circles here.There was some drama when Ibrahim complained of chest pain when being taken into custody. He was brought to the police station after being given first aid.