FILE photo: Former DMK leader MK Alagiri

Days after being booked for grabbing temple land, former Union minister MK Alagiri has offered to return it. He said he did not know the land belonged to a temple.Mr Alagiri, the son of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, has been accused of forging documents and encroaching upon 44 cents of land for the Dhaya College of Engineering, which is run by the education trust he heads. He had got anticipatory bail in the case till September 3.The land, located outside Madurai, was granted for the support of a temple at Sivarakottai and the temple has proper documents. The land, thus, comes under the purview of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, an official of the temple, R Jeyaraman, told the Madras High Court today.Mr Alagiri has sought to quash the case, claiming the charges against him are politically motivated.After hearing his offer, the prosecution counsel said the concerned authorities will consider it.

The court reserved its order on Mr Alagiri's plea to extend the anticipatory bail.In March, Mr Alagiri was expelled from the DMK for anti-party activities. Lately, there has been a buzz that the party is set to take him back following a peace deal between Mr Alagiri and his father, DMK chief Mr M Karunanidhi.