Chennai, July 16 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu government will not shield anyone found responsible in either the alleged encroachment of Palani temple land or the custodial death of a remand prisoner in Nagercoil, Energy and Law Minister, R. Nirmalkumar, said on Thursday, asserting that strict legal action would be taken in both cases.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat after the State Cabinet meeting, the Minister said the government was committed to ensuring a fair and transparent investigation into the alleged encroachment of land belonging to the Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple in Palani.

He dismissed suggestions that influential “power centres” were behind the issue and said the probe would proceed without any interference.

Nirmalkumar said the government was determined to protect temple properties and would initiate appropriate legal action against anyone found guilty after the investigation.

He stressed that the law would take its course regardless of the status or influence of those involved.

Responding to questions on the custodial death of remand prisoner Sabarivarman inside the Nagercoil sub-jail, the Minister said Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had already directed officials to take immediate and appropriate action.

He reiterated that the government had no intention of protecting any individual connected with the incident and that all found responsible would face action under the law.

The Minister said the present administration was committed to ensuring accountability in custodial death cases and alleged that several such incidents had occurred during the previous DMK government without the truth being fully brought out.

He said the TVK government was determined to uphold transparency and ensure justice.

Turning to politics, Nirmalkumar accused both the DMK and the AIADMK of attempting to forge an alliance with the BJP.

He also alleged that efforts were being made to destabilise the ruling TVK government by trying to lure its MLAs with offers of ₹50 crore each.

On reforms in the Registration Department, the Minister alleged that fixed percentages had been collected during document registrations under the previous DMK regime.

He said the TVK government had abolished such practices by restructuring the department to improve transparency, strengthen accountability and prevent corruption in property registration services.

—IANS

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