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Patna police have arrested Ravi Ranjan, the alleged mastermind of a gang accused of defrauding several people of crores of rupees by selling other people’s land using forged documents. Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Beur police station apprehended him near Kushwaha Chowk on Thursday. The accused had been evading arrest for nearly two years by frequently changing his hideouts. According to police officials, he had been hiding in Delhi for some time and recently returned to Patna during the Chhath festival, which led to his capture.
Ranjan’s wife, Madhuri Kumari, and their son have also been named as co-accused in the case and are currently absconding. Police teams are conducting continuous raids at possible hideouts to trace and arrest them. Investigators suspect that the family members played an active role in preparing fake property papers, posing as rightful landowners, and collecting money from unsuspecting buyers. Police are now interrogating Ranjan to uncover the gang’s modus operandi and identify other associates involved in the racket.
Evading Arrest Across States for Two Years
Sub-Divisional Police Officer-1 Narayan Upadhyay stated that complaints of land fraud involving forged documents surfaced about two years ago in the Beur and Jakkanpur police station areas. More than a dozen victims reported being cheated out of crores of rupees. Following the registration of first information reports, police launched a manhunt for the accused. To evade capture, Ranjan allegedly moved across multiple districts in Bihar before fleeing to Delhi, where he stayed in hiding.
During the Chhath festival, Beur police received credible intelligence regarding his arrival in Patna. Officers monitored his movements, laid a trap around Kushwaha Chowk, and took him into custody. Police are now investigating who sheltered him during his time on the run and whether he executed similar fraudulent land deals in other cities.
Former Station House Officer’s Family Among Victims
Investigations have revealed that during 2023 and 2024, the accused allegedly cheated former Beur station house officer Usha Sinha and her family members out of lakhs of rupees using fake land documents. Police records indicate that four victims in the Beur area alone were defrauded of approximately Rs 1.10 crore. Additionally, several individuals in the Jakkanpur police station area were duped of around Rs 80 lakh through similar deceptive property transactions.
In 2024, a victim named Sanjeev Prakash lodged a formal complaint against Ranjan. According to the complaints, the accused posed as the legitimate owner of various plots and presented forged paperwork to gain the trust of buyers. Victims only realized they had been cheated after handing over substantial sums of money. Investigators are examining whether the same method of document forgery and identical accomplices were used across all reported cases.
Investigation Expands to Saharsa and Sheikhpura
Beyond Patna, Ranjan faces allegations of defrauding people of lakhs of rupees using forged land records in Saharsa and Sheikhpura districts. Patna police are coordinating with police units in these districts to gather details of registered complaints and compile the accused’s complete criminal history.
The probe is now focused on identifying all targeted victims, tracing where the fake documents were fabricated, and tracking the bank accounts or channels used to receive the defrauded funds. Police are also looking into the possible involvement of middlemen or document writers in facilitating the illegal deals. Officials noted that Ranjan may be taken on police remand for detailed questioning to dismantle the entire network and locate his absconding wife and son.
