MOHALI: Police in Punjab say a property fraud ring quietly exploited legal blind spots around absentee and deceased landowners, using forged documents to siphon off crores of rupees before the scheme came to light.
A Quiet Trail of Forged Papers
The investigation began not with a dramatic raid, but with anomalies buried in land records — transfers executed through documents that appeared routine on their face. According to Mohali police, the accused and his associates allegedly targeted properties belonging to people who had either died or were living abroad for long periods. These properties, often unmanaged and rarely scrutinized, became the foundation of a carefully constructed fraud.
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Investigators say the group first gathered detailed information about such assets, mapping ownership histories and identifying gaps that could be exploited. Using this intelligence, they prepared forged property documents that mirrored authentic records closely enough to evade immediate detection. The fraudulent paperwork, police say, enabled the illegal sale of land without the knowledge of rightful heirs or owners.
The Arrest and the Network Behind It
Mohali police arrested Gurjeet Singh, whom officials describe as the kingpin of the operation, after weeks of surveillance and document verification. He was apprehended by a team from the IT City police station, acting on directions from senior district officials.
Police officials identified Singh as a resident of village Dubli Khera in Fatehgarh Sahib district. After his arrest, he was produced before a court, which granted police remand to allow further interrogation. Authorities say the investigation remains active, with additional disclosures expected as questioning continues.
The alleged fraud, according to police estimates, caused financial losses of nearly ₹7 crore, though officials caution that the figure could rise as more transactions are examined.
Forged Authorities and Interstate Links
Central to the scheme, investigators say, was the fabrication of General Power of Attorney (GPA) documents — a legal instrument often used in property transactions. The gang allegedly sourced forged GPA documents from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, exploiting interstate gaps in verification processes.
Alongside these documents, police say the group created counterfeit property papers and fake seals, tools that lent an air of legitimacy to the transactions. The forged materials were then used to execute land sales, transferring ownership on paper while masking the absence of consent from the true owners or their legal successors.
Officials describe the operation as methodical rather than hurried, relying on familiarity with land registration procedures and administrative vulnerabilities.
An Ongoing Probe Into a Broader Pattern
Police officials have emphasized that the case may extend beyond a single individual. Investigators are examining the role of associates who allegedly assisted in gathering property data, preparing forged documents, and facilitating transactions.
The probe, authorities say, reflects a broader challenge facing land administration systems, particularly in cases involving absentee ownership. For now, officials maintain that the focus remains on tracing the flow of forged documents and identifying all those involved.
