Gurgaon Excise Officer Nabbed in Multi-Crore Property Fraud Case
In a significant development, an excise officer has been arrested for her alleged involvement in a sophisticated property fraud case in Gurgaon, involving forged documents and a transaction worth Rs 3.4 crore. The arrest was made by the Economic Offences Wing-I from Punjab's Zirakpur on Tuesday.
Details of the Arrest and Accused
The accused has been identified as Saroj Devi (50), a resident of Sector 55 in Gurgaon. She is currently serving as the deputy excise and taxation commissioner in Jhajjar's Bahadurgarh, with a recent transfer to Narnaul in Mahendragarh district. Police officials confirmed that she holds an MPhil degree, adding an unexpected dimension to the case.
Modus Operandi of the Fraud
According to police investigations, the fraud was executed through a carefully orchestrated plan involving forged documents. Forged allotment letters were created, which then served as the basis for registering a conveyance deed in 2020. A conveyance deed is a legally binding document that transfers property ownership from a seller to a buyer.
This forged deed transferred ownership of the plot to Saroj Devi and her associate, Rajbala. Subsequently, Saroj Devi sold the plot and allegedly received Rs 1.7 crore as her share of the proceeds. A police officer involved in the investigation revealed that "the fraud was executed in connivance with the employee of a real estate company," indicating possible collusion within the industry.
How the Fraud Came to Light
The case surfaced following a complaint received at Sector 53 police station on February 16, 2024. The complainant detailed a heartbreaking story of how his father had booked a plot in Gurgaon's Sector 54 through a real estate company back in 2004, making all payments on time.
The family received an allotment letter in 2004 and took possession of the plot in 2005. After the allottee's death in 2013, the family applied for the transfer of the plot to the names of the legal heirs, but this transfer never materialized.
The shocking discovery came in 2023 when the family noticed construction work beginning on their plot. Upon approaching the developer, they learned that the land had been sold to a third party for Rs 3.4 crore in July 2021, completely unbeknownst to them.
Legal Proceedings and Investigation
An FIR has been registered under relevant sections at Sector 53 police station. Police officials stated that the accused would be produced before a court, and custody would be sought for further interrogation. The investigation aims to achieve several crucial objectives:
- Identify other accomplices involved in the fraud
- Recover the cheated amount from the accused
- Seize all forged documents used in the transaction
Broader Implications
This case highlights serious vulnerabilities in property transaction systems and document verification processes in real estate. The involvement of a government official adds to the gravity of the situation, raising questions about internal checks and balances within administrative systems.
The Economic Offences Wing's intervention demonstrates the increasing focus on financial crimes in the real estate sector, particularly those involving forged documents and collusion between officials and private entities.
