Udaipur: A suspected conspiracy to take over agricultural land and sell it using forged documents has come to light in Rajasthan’s Udaipur. Savina police have arrested two more accused who were allegedly absconding in the case. According to police, the accused replaced the original landowner in the records with a dummy person, prepared forged documents and allegedly attempted to advance the sale of the agricultural property using a fake power of attorney. Five accused have now been arrested in the case.
The arrested accused have been identified as Dhanraj Bairwa, a resident of Dewali, and Yashwant Singh Shaktawat alias Sonu, a resident of Machhla Magra. Both are being questioned. Investigators are trying to establish who planned the alleged manipulation of land records and whether other people were involved in the conspiracy.
Two agricultural plots allegedly targeted
According to police, complainant Mithalal Vaishnav filed a complaint at Savina police station stating that he owned two agricultural plots in the Dakan Kotda area. He alleged that certain land mafias and anti-social elements prepared forged documents with the intention of taking possession of the properties.
After receiving the complaint, police began examining the land records, related documents and the alleged transactions. During the investigation, police allegedly found that a dummy person had been presented in place of the actual landowner. Documents were then prepared in the person’s name and an alleged forged power of attorney was used in an attempt to move forward with the sale of the land.
Dummy landowner allegedly used to bypass real owner
Investigators suspect that the alleged plan was aimed at replacing the actual owner’s identity in the documentation with that of another person. The accused allegedly intended to use the forged documents to make the proposed sale or transfer of the property appear legitimate.
The alleged role of a power of attorney has also emerged during the investigation. Police are now trying to determine who prepared the documents, who assisted in creating them and whether the accused had contacted any prospective buyers or intermediaries for the proposed land transaction.
Technical leads help police track absconding accused
During the investigation, police reportedly used technical resources along with an informer network to trace the absconding accused. Investigators collected information about their activities and possible locations before arresting Dhanraj Bairwa and Yashwant Singh Shaktawat.
Earlier, Anil Sharma, Sikandar Parmar and Manish Kharadi had also been arrested in connection with the case. With the arrest of the two additional accused, investigators are now attempting to establish the individual roles of all five accused and reconstruct the alleged conspiracy.
Land records and wider network under investigation
Police are examining the records allegedly used to prepare the forged documents and are checking whether incorrect information was introduced at any stage of the revenue process. Investigators are also looking into the accused’s links with one another and identifying any potential beneficiaries of the alleged land fraud.
Police suspect that more people could be involved in the case. During questioning, the arrested accused are being asked about their alleged associates, people who may have helped prepare the documents and contacts connected with the proposed sale of the property.
Probe may extend to other properties
Another key aspect of the investigation is whether the alleged method was limited to the two agricultural plots belonging to the complainant or whether similar properties may also have been targeted. Police are examining the accused’s previous activities and other land-related documents as part of the probe.
The two recently arrested accused remain under questioning. Police are also verifying whether any formal process for the sale or transfer of the land was completed on the basis of the alleged forged power of attorney and other documents. Further arrests have not been ruled out as investigators continue to trace the alleged network.
