Hazaribag, Jharkhand: Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 10 people, including a Circle Officer (CO), Circle Inspector (CI), revenue staff member and a computer operator, in connection with an alleged multi-crore land fraud case in Jharkhand’s Hazaribag district. Acting on the directions of the Jharkhand High Court, Sadar police initiated the case over allegations that forged documents were used to manipulate official records and online land data to secure the illegal mutation of a disputed property. An investigation has now been launched.
The FIR was registered on a complaint filed by Nagwan resident Fiyaz Ahmad. Those named in the case include Circle Officer Anil Kumar, Circle Inspector Virendra Kumar, revenue employee Seema Kumari Singh, computer operator Sandeep Kumar, and Hira Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Sabra Khatoon, Salma Khatoon, Mukesh Kumar and Uday Kumar.
According to the complaint, 26 decimals of land under Khata No. 136 and Plot Nos. 824 and 825 in Nagwan are recorded in Register-II in the name of Mohammad Kalimullah. Fiyaz Ahmad claimed that he legally purchased the property from Kalimullah’s son, Mohammad Ekram, and had already constructed a boundary wall around the land.
The complainant alleged that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy to illegally seize the valuable property. He claimed that Hira Kumar obtained a power of attorney from Kalimullah’s relatives, including Salma Khatoon, and allegedly used forged documents to transfer ownership of the land to Mukesh Kumar and Uday Kumar in January this year.
Fiyaz further alleged that officials at the circle office, along with the computer operator, manipulated government records and online land databases to facilitate the mutation of the property on the basis of forged documents. He also accused the group of attempting to demolish the boundary wall and threatening him with serious consequences if he refused to vacate the land.
The complainant stated that he had submitted a written complaint to Sadar police on February 23, but no FIR was registered at that time. He subsequently approached the Jharkhand High Court, which on July 10 directed the police to register a case and proceed in accordance with the law.
Following the High Court’s order, Sadar police registered the FIR under relevant legal provisions and began an investigation. Investigators are expected to examine land ownership records, sale deeds, the power of attorney, mutation documents and online revenue records to determine the extent of the alleged manipulation and identify those responsible.
Police said the investigation would be carried out impartially and that further legal action would be based on the evidence gathered during the probe. If the allegations regarding forged documents, tampering with government records or the involvement of public officials are substantiated, appropriate action will be taken against those found responsible.
The case comes amid increased scrutiny of alleged land record fraud and document manipulation across several states. Experts say that greater transparency in digital land records and periodic verification of ownership documents are essential to prevent such disputes and protect property rights. The investigation is currently underway, and further action will depend on the findings of the police probe.
