Police in Uttar Pradesh have seized assets worth ₹35.28 crore belonging to a group of land mafias accused of cheating hundreds of investors by floating a fake real estate company and selling illegal plots in the Tappal region of Aligarh district. The action was carried out under the Gangster Act, with authorities stating that the confiscated property would be auctioned to compensate victims of the fraud.
The crackdown follows a long-running investigation into a real estate group operating under the name Future-Key Home Zone, which allegedly carried out large-scale fraud by illegally plotting agricultural land and selling it to unsuspecting buyers. Police said the gang was active for over five years and had amassed properties not only in Tappal but also in Noida and other districts.
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Three accused named, one absconding
The action has been taken against three partners of the real estate firm. The gang leader has been identified as Dharmveer Yadav, a resident of Surajpur area in Noida, originally from Rohtas district in Bihar. The other accused are Vishnu Sharma alias Akash, a resident of Sector-39 Noida, and Pawan Jha, a resident of Madhubani district in Bihar. While Vishnu and Dharmveer have been arrested and sent to jail, Pawan Jha is currently absconding, police said.
Three criminal cases were registered against the accused last year, and charge-sheets were subsequently filed. On January 6, police registered a case under the Gangster Act, following which properties acquired using the proceeds of fraud were identified and seized after approval from the district magistrate.
₹35.28 crore worth land seized
On Wednesday, police confiscated 11,760.028 square metres of land located in Simrauthi village under Tappal police station limits. The seized land includes multiple plot numbers and is estimated to be worth ₹35,28,84,000. The property was formally taken over by the administration, with official boards installed and public announcements made through drum beating to inform residents of the seizure.
The operation was carried out by a police team led by the SP (Rural), along with officers from Khair circle and Tappal police station.
How the fraud was carried out
Investigators said the accused targeted investors by showing them attractive layout maps of residential plots near the upcoming Jewar airport corridor. However, the land being sold was recorded as agricultural land, and no land-use conversion had been obtained from the authorities.
Police said illegal plotting was done without approval from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA). Investors were made to sign non-registered agreements, and large sums of money were collected. When buyers later demanded possession or refunds, they were allegedly threatened and driven away.
In several cases, when investors reached the site to take possession, local farmers informed them that the land did not belong to the company and that farming activities were still ongoing there.
Farmers also cheated
The accused are also alleged to have cheated local farmers. Police said land was purchased illegally at throwaway prices, while in some cases forged sale deeds were prepared using fake signatures. Several farmers were allegedly deprived of fair compensation, and some lost ownership of their land without consent.
Over 200 illegal colonies uncovered
The investigation has also exposed a much larger illegal land operation linked to the Jewar airport project. Police said more than 200 illegal colonies across 90 villages along the Aligarh-Palwal highway were developed by land mafias, including builders from Delhi, Haryana and neighbouring states.
The CEO of YEIDA had earlier written to the district administration seeking action against illegal colonies, following which deeper probes revealed widespread violations.
More properties under scanner
Police said the accused had acquired additional assets in Noida and other districts using money obtained through fraud. These properties are being identified and could also be seized in the coming days.
The Senior Superintendent of Police has appealed to residents of Tappal and Khair areas to remain cautious and avoid falling for promises of high returns. He said land records must be verified thoroughly before any transaction and urged people to contact police if they suspect wrongdoing.
“This is the third major action against land mafias in the past five months,” police said, adding that strict action would continue against those exploiting investors and farmers.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
