Warangal Police Crack Down on Major Land Registration Fraud
Police in Jangaon made a significant breakthrough on Friday. They arrested fifteen members of a criminal gang. This gang orchestrated a massive scam worth Rs 3.90 crore. The fraud targeted the Dharani and Bhu Bharati land registration systems in Jangaon and Yadadri districts.
Prime Accused and Their Operations
Warangal Police Commissioner Sunpreet Singh identified the key figures. Pasunuri Basava Raju and Jella Pandu served as the prime accused. They operated online service centers at Yadagirigutta. Another individual, Ganesh Kumar, allegedly connected them to online land registration centers.
The gang's method was systematic. They collected registration fees from farmers through MeeSeva operators and online service centers. They promised to pay government challans using NRI accounts. Instead, they distributed commissions to service operators and middlemen. The remaining funds went directly to the prime accused.
Substantial Seizures and Technical Exploitation
Authorities seized considerable assets during the operation. The haul included Rs 63.19 lakh in cash. Police also recovered Rs 1 lakh from bank accounts. Property documents valued at approximately Rs 1 crore were confiscated. Additionally, officers took a car, two laptops, five desktop computers, and seventeen mobile phones.
Commissioner Singh explained how the gang operated. They exploited occasional technical glitches during fee payments for land registrations. Over the past few days, they repeatedly found and used loopholes in the Dharani and Bhu Bharati portals.
Manipulation of Official Systems
Basava Raju personally edited application options on the portals. This manipulation reduced challan amounts significantly. The accused used mobile applications to alter challans further. They then sent these manipulated receipts to unsuspecting farmers.
The gang also tampered with official payment receipts. They paid reduced amounts to the government treasury. Forged challans were submitted at local MRO and registration offices through middlemen. This elaborate scheme caused substantial revenue loss to the state government.
Pattern of Fraud and Ongoing Investigation
Police believe the accused developed a pattern for earning what they considered 'easy money'. They began registering Dharani and Bhu Bharati documents directly through the portals. This process is legally meant only for MeeSeva centers, authorized online service providers, or registered middlemen.
In return for their services, they paid commissions ranging from 10% to 30% to others involved in the racket. The investigation has uncovered extensive fraudulent activity. The gang carried out fake financial transactions related to 1,080 land registration documents across both districts.
Cases Registered and Manhunt Continues
Sunpreet Singh confirmed that twenty-two cases have been registered so far. Seven cases are in Jangaon district. Fifteen cases are in Yadadri district. Nine other accused remain at large. Police efforts are actively focused on tracing and arresting these absconding individuals.
The crackdown highlights vulnerabilities in digital land registration systems. It also shows police determination to protect farmers and state revenue from sophisticated cyber-financial crimes.
