Police bust gang selling land in dead man’s name | Lucknow News
Lucknow: In a startling case of land fraud, Mohanlalganj police exposed an organised gang that allegedly sold agricultural land by impersonating a deceased owner, using forged documents, fake Aadhaar cards and even a dummy bank account opened in the dead man’s name.“Three accused were arrested so far and household appliances bought with the fraud money were recovered,” said ADCP Vasanth Rallapalli.
The case dated back to 2024 when an FIR was lodged with the Mohanlalganj police station. One Vimla Singh complained that agricultural land recorded in the name of her late husband Avadhraj Singh was sold using forged papers. Avadhraj Singh died on Feb 16, 2023, but the accused allegedly projected a fictitious person as him to execute the sale.“Police investigation revealed that 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 the death of Avadhraj, the gang allegedly prepared a fake Aadhaar card, photograph and supporting documents and executed a sale deed of around 17 biswa of land at the Mohanlalganj sub-registrar’s office on July 18, 2024,” read a Lucknow police press note.According to ADCP, Rajkumar, Gyanendra Rajput and Kamal Yadav conspired to carry out the fraud, while another fictitious person was produced as a witness to the deed. A bank account was also fraudulently opened in the name of the deceased at a branch of Bank of Maharashtra, into which the buyer’s payment was deposited.The police said the buyer Hetram Pal of Ashiana, Lucknow, turned out to be a victim. He reportedly paid ₹7.20 lakh through cheques and cash, unaware that the seller was fake and the documents were forged.The digital money trail further exposed the gang. On July 29, 2024, ₹45,500 was spent online from the fake account to purchase a 1.5-ton AC and a 32-inch LED TV from an electronics store. The shop owner later confirmed the purchase, linking it directly to the accused.“Rajkumar was arrested on late Saturday from Belhiya Kheda, with the AC and LED TV recovered from his possession. On Sunday, police arrested Gyanendra Rajput from Atrauli Crossing and Sarvesh from Raisingh Kheda, Bijnor. All 3 are residents of areas under Mohanlalganj police limits,” said the ADCP.The police said the accused operated as a gang, maintaining constant contact through mobile phones used for location sharing, banking, and shopping under fake identities.
