Chance discovery of fake land documents racket

HYDERABAD: Investigation into a robbery brought to the fore an alleged organised crime involving illegal sale of land using fabricated documents in the city on Monday.

The Tappachabutra police on Sunday picked up Raheem and Sarwar, real estate businessmen, who allegedly robbed a woman Shabana Parveena on August 11, of Rs. 7.5 lakh at knifepoint. Two of their associates, Amjad and Yaseen, are still at large.

During investigations, the duo told police that they did not rob Ms. Parveena but took away their share of money pertaining to an illegal land sale transaction involving the woman and her husband Samad.

“Further inquiries revealed that the couple and the four accused were members of the same gang resorting to illegal sale of lands,” the Inspector J. Narsaiah told a press conference.

Residents of Masab Tank, the wife and husband would get details of vacant lands in and around the city from the four persons. The couple would engage labourers and undertake cleaning and digging work at the open lands. “If the original land owner turns up, they would flee the place. But they used to claim the land as their own in case no one raised objection,” the Inspector explained.

Mr. Samad would make fictitious documents in his name with the help of one Ismail and get the land registered in his wife’s name through gift deed. Later, Mr. Raheem, Mr. Sarwar, Mr. Amjad and Mr. Yaseen would find a buyer for the property and Ms. Parveena would register the land.

They had been indulging in this for the past year but disputes arose among them while sharing the money secured after registering a land on August 11.

They threatened Ms. Parveena with a knife while she was carrying home Rs. 7.5 lakh, and took away the money. Mr. Narsaiah said the Rajendranagar police were informed of the fraud as the lands sold by the gang were located in their jurisdiction.