Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: A suspected land fraud involving ₹60 lakh has come to light in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore, where police have registered a case against a real estate broker and a man claiming to be an advocate. The two are accused of deceiving a local real estate businessman into paying a substantial advance for the purchase of nearly eight acres of land. According to the complaint, the accused neither completed the property registration nor refunded the money. The victim has also alleged that he was abused and threatened with death when he demanded his money back.
Police identified the complainant as V. Jeganathan (42), a real estate businessman residing near the Government Women’s ITI in Cheran Nagar, Coimbatore. He alleged that Saravanan, a real estate broker from Edaiyarpalayam, and Venkatachalapathy, a resident of Peelamedu who claimed to be an advocate, approached him with an offer to sell approximately eight acres of land located in Sivaram Nagar near Ramanathapuram.
According to the complaint, the accused claimed they had legal authority to sell several valuable properties belonging to Narayanasamy Naidu on the basis of a will. To support their claims, they allegedly produced multiple documents that convinced the businessman the transaction was genuine. Investigators are now examining whether those documents were authentic or had been forged to facilitate the alleged fraud.
Believing the representations made by the accused, Jeganathan transferred ₹10 lakh to Venkatachalapathy’s bank account on January 20. He later paid an additional ₹50 lakh in cash as advance consideration for the proposed land deal. The accused allegedly assured him that the sale deed would be executed and ownership transferred within a month.
However, despite repeated assurances, the property was never registered in the complainant’s name. Police said the accused allegedly failed to execute the sale deed and also did not return the advance amount. As time passed without any progress, the businessman began to suspect that he had been deliberately cheated through a carefully planned scheme.
The complaint further states that on June 25, when Jeganathan confronted the accused and demanded the return of the full ₹60 lakh, they allegedly abused him using offensive language and threatened him with serious consequences, including death threats. Following the incident, he reportedly re-examined the documents provided during the transaction and discovered alleged irregularities. Realising that he may have been defrauded, he approached the Thudiyalur Police and lodged a formal complaint.
Based on the preliminary investigation, police have registered a case against both accused under relevant provisions relating to cheating, forgery, criminal intimidation, and other applicable offences. Investigators are verifying bank transactions, the alleged cash payment, the authenticity of the purported will, land ownership records, and other documents submitted during the transaction. Police are also examining whether the accused may have used a similar modus operandi to target other prospective property buyers.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said that property buyers should never rely solely on verbal assurances or documents presented by sellers. He advised that ownership records, wills, powers of attorney, revenue records, and registration documents must be independently verified through qualified legal professionals before making any payment. He further stressed that substantial financial transactions should only be completed after proper legal due diligence and documented agreements. Police said the investigation is ongoing, and further legal action will be taken based on the evidence gathered during the probe.
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.
