Authorities today retrieved unlawfully encroached land, valued at Rs.9 crores, belonging to a temple in the city. The land was being encroached upon for nearly four decades.

After coming to know that the land, measuring 4.27 acres in Vedapattti on the outskirts, belonged to Bhajane Venkataramanaswami temple on Raja Street, in Coimbatore city, action was initiated under HR and CE Act 78 on February 2, 2015.

Investigations revealed that a T.A. Manika Udayar was illegally possessing the land and utilising its benefits for the last 38 years. Officials of the HR and CE today took possession of the land and handed it over to the temple trustees.