Belagavi Police Expose Major Land Fraud Ring Involving Fake Documents and Official Collusion
In a significant crackdown, Belagavi police have uncovered another sensational land fraud case, revealing a sophisticated scheme where private property was allegedly transferred through impersonation of original owners. The fraudulent activities involved the use of counterfeit Aadhaar cards and other forged documents, with police alleging collusion from sub-registrar officials in Hukkeri and Sankeshwar.
Arrests and Legal Proceedings Against Officials
Police have registered cases against sub-registrar Madiwalayya Banimath at both Hukkeri and Yamakanamaradi police stations. Banimath was arrested in one case recently and secured anticipatory bail in another on February 8. Additionally, bond writer Anand Daddimani has been taken into custody as part of the investigation.
Authorities are actively searching for another sub-registrar who was posted at Sankeshwar during the period when the alleged fraud occurred. The investigation centers on six acres of property that were illegally transferred in May and June 2025 through fraudulent means.
Complaint Triggers Investigation and Raids
The case came to light following a formal complaint filed by landowner Shivanand Maruti Kudanuri on January 22. During the subsequent investigation, police conducted a raid at the residence of accused Neelakanth Shetteppa Mudupaki, where they made significant seizures including:
- 9 fake Aadhaar cards
- 3 counterfeit PAN cards
- 1 fake voter ID card
- 22 forged documents of various types
In a parallel operation, police raided Suryavanshi Photo Studio, owned by Ashok Suryavanshi, where they confiscated equipment allegedly used to create forged identity documents. The seized items included:
- 1 computer system
- 1 laptop
- 1 camera
- 2 printers
- 1 lamination machine
Police have arrested Mudupaki and Suryavanshi, along with their associate Vijay Shivshankar Mathad, in connection with the document forgery operation.
Accused Individuals and Modus Operandi
The police have identified multiple individuals as accused in this elaborate fraud scheme, all residents of Kurani village:
- Renuka Shankar Mali
- Shivarudra Pradhani Kudnuri
- Kashavva Shivarudra Kudnuri
- Siddayya Nirupadayya Hiremath
- (Late) Adiveppa Shetteppa Mudapaki
According to investigators, these individuals allegedly impersonated the original property owners at sub-registrar offices to execute fraudulent property registrations, thereby transferring ownership illegally.
Police Briefing Reveals Fraudulent Pattern
Superintendent of Police K Ramarajan briefed media representatives on Wednesday, providing crucial insights into the fraudulent operations. He revealed that the accused first transferred the land into another person's name and then immediately sold the property for financial gain.
Ramarajan made serious allegations against the sub-registrar officials involved, stating they "purposely allowed" registrations to proceed without proper Aadhaar authentication. Furthermore, he accused them of failing to verify other essential documents, including sale deeds, despite clear irregularities that should have raised red flags during the registration process.
Pattern of Similar Frauds Emerging in Region
This case follows closely on the heels of a similar incident exposed last week by Udyambag police involving Waghawade village. In that separate case, eight suspects allegedly impersonated landowners using fake Aadhaar cards and forged documents to transfer property ownership.
However, there is a significant distinction between the two cases: while the current Belagavi investigation has named sub-registrar officials as accused, the earlier Waghawade village case did not include any sub-registrar among those charged with wrongdoing.
The Belagavi police investigation continues as authorities work to unravel the full extent of this fraudulent network and bring all involved parties to justice. The case highlights growing concerns about document forgery and official collusion in property transactions across the region.
