The case is part of a wider question of where Nelson Mandela will be buried when he dies.
The criminal charges add to an ongoing civil suit being waged between Mandla, a member of parliament, and 16 family members.
The network of relatives accuse him of moving the remains of three of Nelson Mandela's children from a cemetery in Qunu village to the town of Mvezo, in the rural Eastern Cape province.
Nelson Mandela was born in Mvezo and Mandla is the head of the tradtional council there.
"Members of the family have opened the case," said Eastern Cape police spokesman Mzukisi Fatyela.
"The docket will be sent to the senior public prosecutor for further investigation."
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