Lucknow. A businessman from Barigwan Chauraha in Krishna Nagar has allegedly been cheated of ₹3.20 crore on the promise of securing a house and commercial plot from the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA). The accused, Mahendra Srivastava, allegedly introduced himself as an LDA employee and assured businessman Sunil Kumar Sehgal that he could arrange an LIG-category house and a commercial plot. The accused allegedly collected the money in several instalments with the help of Mahendra’s wife, Ranjana, and Gulab Singh, a resident of Alambagh. Following a court order, an FIR has been registered against all three for alleged cheating and other relevant offences, and police have begun an investigation.
Sunil Kumar Sehgal runs a shop named ‘Radhe-Radhe Almirah and Furniture’ on Kanpur Road. According to his complaint, Mahendra and his wife Ranjana approached him in 2023. Mahendra allegedly claimed to be an LDA employee and said he could arrange an LIG-category house and a commercial plot. Trusting the assurance, Sehgal agreed to proceed with the proposed property transactions and began making payments.
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₹3.20 Crore Allegedly Collected in Instalments
According to the complaint, the accused allegedly collected a total of ₹3.20 crore from the businessman in instalments at different times. Sehgal said he arranged the substantial amount by selling his wife’s jewellery and borrowing money from several acquaintances. After receiving the money, the accused allegedly provided allotment letters, receipts and other documents purportedly issued in the name of the LDA.
The complaint alleges that between February 8, 2024, and July 19, 2024, the accused continued providing documents related to the house and plot while assuring Sehgal that their registration would be completed soon. However, the registration process did not move forward despite the passage of considerable time, prompting the businessman to question the authenticity of the documents.
LDA Verification Allegedly Exposed Forgery
In 2025, Sehgal approached the LDA office with the documents for verification. He allegedly discovered there that the allotment letters, receipts and other papers given to him were not genuine. According to his complaint, when he confronted the accused, they allegedly offered to arrange alternative properties instead.
Subsequently, registrations were allegedly carried out for a property in Ruchikhand on February 3, 2025, and for a plot on Kanpur Road on August 22, 2025. However, the businessman later allegedly discovered that the properties registered in his favour were not owned by the accused. The complaint describes these registrations as fraudulent as well. Gulab Singh has also been accused of allegedly assisting in the transactions.
Threats Allegedly Issued When Money Was Demanded Back
Sehgal alleged that when he demanded the return of his money on June 14, the accused refused to repay it and allegedly threatened him. He then approached the police seeking action. When an FIR was not registered at the local level, he moved the court.
Following the court’s direction, Krishna Nagar police registered a case against Mahendra Srivastava, his wife Ranjana and Gulab Singh. Police said the allegations in the complaint are being investigated. Investigators will examine the authenticity of the documents, the financial transactions, the alleged fraudulent property registrations and the respective roles of the three accused. Further action will be taken on the basis of the evidence gathered during the investigation.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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