Advertisement
Authorities in Indore have uncovered a major land registry scam worth INR 100 crore, involving forged property documents dating back to 1957. An internal audit revealed mismatches in buyer-seller details and missing thumb impressions in 18 suspicious registry entries. A five-member committee confirmed tampering of official records, prompting an FIR under multiple sections of the IPC. The police are investigating possible collusion among registration and municipal staff. The fraud spans residential, commercial, and agricultural plots in prime city locations. In response, a ban was recently imposed on notarising high-value property documents. Forensic verification is underway, with arrests expected as the case unfolds.
Authorities in Indore have uncovered a major land registry scam estimated at INR 100 crore, following the discovery of several fake registration entries in the sub-registrar's office. The matter came to light after a detailed internal audit revealed that nearly 18 property registries some dating back to 1957 had mismatches in buyer-seller names and lacked the mandatory thumb impressions of sellers. Advertisement
The suspicious documents, found in the registration department's record room, prompted the district administration to form a five-member inquiry committee earlier this year. The committee submitted its findings recently, confirming that thumb impression records were either damaged, tampered with, or entirely missing, and that crucial index registers had been defaced.
Following the report, the department filed an FIR at Pandhrinath police station. The complaint was lodged by an official of the registrar's office, and the case has been registered under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), and 471 (using forged documents as genuine).
The police have begun verifying whether the forged registry entries were used to acquire or transfer properties fraudulently. While the identities of the accused are yet to be established, the role of municipal officials and employees from the registration department is being closely examined. Authorities suspect internal collusion in enabling the registration of these documents.
The fake entries involve residential, commercial, and agricultural land. Many of the properties are located in prime areas of the city. Officials believe that these documents may have been used to claim ownership or legitimise illegal possession over the years.
In a related move, the Indore administration had recently imposed a ban on the notarisation of immovable property documents valued at INR 100 or more, citing rampant misuse in property deals. That step was taken to prevent fraudulent transfers that often bypass the registration system.
The current case adds to earlier property-related frauds in the region. In 2022, the Economic Offences Wing had also filed a separate FIR involving undervaluation of properties to evade stamp duty, causing losses worth over INR 13 crore.
As the investigation progresses, police are working with forensic teams to validate the thumb impressions and verify the authenticity of the registry papers. Further arrests are likely once those involved are identified.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
