Lucknow Police Cracks Down on Elaborate Land Fraud Scheme
In a significant breakthrough, the Mohanlalganj police in Lucknow have dismantled an organised gang involved in a sophisticated land fraud case. The criminals allegedly sold agricultural land by impersonating a deceased owner, employing a web of forged documents, counterfeit Aadhaar cards, and even a dummy bank account opened in the dead man's name.
Three Arrests Made and Fraudulent Purchases Recovered
ADCP Vasanth Rallapalli confirmed that police have arrested three individuals so far in connection with this case. Authorities also recovered household appliances that the accused bought using the illicit funds obtained from the fraud.
The investigation traces back to 2024 when an FIR was first registered at the Mohanlalganj police station. The complaint came from Vimla Singh, who reported that agricultural land recorded in her late husband Avadhraj Singh's name had been sold using fabricated papers. Avadhraj Singh passed away on February 16, 2023, but the gang allegedly presented a fictitious person as him to complete the illegal sale transaction.
How the Fraud Was Executed
Police investigations revealed specific details about the fraudulent operation. Khasra No 296, measuring 0.449 hectares at Udaipur Nigoha village, was jointly recorded in the names of Asha Lata Verma and Avadhraj Singh. Despite Avadhraj Singh's death, the gang prepared a fake Aadhaar card, photograph, and supporting documents.
Using these forged materials, they executed a sale deed for approximately 17 biswa of land at the Mohanlalganj sub-registrar's office on July 18, 2024. According to ADCP Rallapalli, the main conspirators included Rajkumar, Gyanendra Rajput, and Kamal Yadav. They produced another fictitious person as a witness to the deed to lend it an appearance of legitimacy.
The scheme extended to banking fraud as well. The gang fraudulently opened a bank account in the deceased man's name at a Bank of Maharashtra branch. They deposited the buyer's payment directly into this account, creating a complete but fake financial trail.
An Unwitting Buyer Falls Victim
The police identified the buyer as Hetram Pal from Ashiana, Lucknow, who turned out to be an innocent victim in this elaborate scam. Pal reportedly paid ₹7.20 lakh through cheques and cash, completely unaware that the seller was fake and all documents were forged.
Digital Money Trail Leads to Appliance Purchases
The digital transactions from the fake bank account provided crucial evidence that further exposed the gang's activities. On July 29, 2024, someone spent ₹45,500 online from the fraudulent account to purchase a 1.5-ton air conditioner and a 32-inch LED television from an electronics store.
The shop owner later confirmed this purchase to investigators, directly linking the transaction to the accused individuals. This digital evidence became a key piece in tracing the fraud money and identifying those responsible.
Police Make Arrests Across Multiple Locations
Acting on this evidence, police arrested Rajkumar late Saturday from Belhiya Kheda. Officers recovered the air conditioner and LED television from his possession at the time of arrest. On Sunday, authorities made two more arrests: Gyanendra Rajput from Atrauli Crossing and Sarvesh from Raisingh Kheda in Bijnor.
All three arrested individuals are residents of areas under Mohanlalganj police jurisdiction. According to police statements, the accused operated as a coordinated gang, maintaining constant contact through mobile phones. They used these devices for location sharing, banking activities, and shopping under their fake identities.
The case highlights how criminals are employing increasingly sophisticated methods to commit property fraud, using both traditional document forgery and modern digital tools to execute their schemes.
