Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested two brothers in connection with an alleged attempt to illegally claim the land on which the official residence of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) is situated in Moradabad. Investigators allege that the accused, along with several associates, prepared forged documents, misrepresented ownership before authorities, and attempted to establish legal rights over the government property. Police further claim that the accused collected more than ₹2.845 million (₹28.45 lakh) in rent over nearly two decades by falsely asserting ownership of the disputed property. The arrests were made as part of an ongoing investigation into a case registered earlier this month.
According to police, Sudhir Kumar Dhawan and his brother Sunil Kumar Dhawan, both residents of Ballabh Mohalla, Mandi Chowk under the Kotwali police station area, were arrested by the Civil Lines Police on Wednesday night and remanded to judicial custody on Thursday. Authorities said efforts are continuing to locate the remaining accused, including Sumit Dhawan, Ankit Dhawan, Sudha Tandon, Vipin Kumar Dhawan, and Beena Talwar, a resident of Shalimar Bagh, Delhi, who have also been named in the case.
Police said the FIR was registered at Civil Lines Police Station on July 11 on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Harendra Singh under multiple sections related to cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and other serious offences. The case was initiated after an administrative inquiry reportedly revealed irregularities in documents submitted to support the ownership claim over the government property.
Investigators allege that the accused attempted to mislead both the police and the courts by presenting fabricated ownership records and claiming legal rights over the land occupied by the SSP residence. During the investigation, officials also found allegations that the accused had collected rent exceeding ₹28.45 lakh over a period of approximately 19 years by projecting themselves as lawful owners. Authorities are examining financial records and tenancy-related documents to determine the full extent of the alleged fraud.
Police further stated that the accused are also under investigation in a separate case involving the alleged preparation of forged documents to claim ownership of another disputed property known locally as Chadha Kothi. Officials believe both cases may reveal a broader pattern of land-related fraud involving fabricated property records and false ownership claims.
According to the findings of a four-member committee constituted by the Divisional Commissioner, the disputed land originally formed part of Gata No. 455-A in Village Chhawani during the British administration and was officially recorded as government land designated for the residence of IPS officers. During subsequent land settlement proceedings, it was renumbered as Gata No. 1348-F. The official SSP residence has existed on this land for several years, and government revenue records continue to classify it as public property.
The inquiry reportedly found no credible evidence establishing how the woman from whom the accused claimed to have acquired the property had obtained legal ownership of the land. Despite the absence of a verifiable ownership chain, investigators allege that forged and fabricated documents were created and used to support the claim over the government property. These documents are now undergoing forensic and legal examination as part of the investigation.
Police officials also disclosed that the accused have previously faced other legal proceedings. A complaint had earlier been filed against them by Inderjit Singh Chadha of the Chadha Group in connection with another property dispute. In addition, businessman Umesh Chandra, a resident of Awas Vikas Colony, registered a separate case against the accused in 2024. Investigators are examining whether there are similarities between the various cases that could indicate a recurring pattern of fraudulent land transactions.
Police said the investigation remains in progress and additional arrests are expected. Authorities are scrutinizing revenue records, registration documents, financial transactions, court filings, and other documentary evidence to establish the alleged conspiracy and determine the role of each accused. Further legal action will be taken based on the evidence collected during the course of the investigation.
