Mathura: An alleged major land fraud involving government property has come to light in Mathura district, where land mafias are accused of preparing forged documents to sell around 100 bighas of government land across nearly half a dozen gram panchayats. The land is estimated to be worth around ₹400 crore, according to a tehsil-level inquiry. Documents linked to land in Adooki, Bhudarsu, Tarsi, Baad, Kosikhurd and Rasulpur are reportedly among those examined during the investigation.
The land allegedly targeted in the fraud includes barren land, gram sabha land, pasture land, new fallow land and old fallow land. Under applicable rules, land falling under these protected government categories cannot ordinarily be sold through registered deeds or transferred through private agreements. Such land also cannot legally be allotted to private individuals in the manner alleged in the case. Investigators suspect that forged lease documents and land records were prepared to portray government land as privately owned property.
How the Alleged Land Fraud Worked
According to the alleged method uncovered during the inquiry, members of the suspected network first targeted elderly villagers, including very old men and women. They allegedly lured them with financial incentives and prepared forged lease documents and land records in their names for government land.
The forged documents were then allegedly used to execute agreements for the land. These agreements were subsequently presented as proof of ownership to facilitate further transactions and attempts to execute registered sale deeds.
Once the land was portrayed as privately owned, it was allegedly marketed to prospective buyers at substantial prices. The agreements and sale deeds were reportedly used to create the impression that the properties were legally available for purchase. Several buyers are believed to have invested significant portions of their savings after relying on the documents presented to them.
Inquiry Ordered After Villagers’ Complaint
The investigation was initiated after residents of Tarsi complained to the district administration. Following the complaint, the District Magistrate ordered an inquiry into the alleged transactions. The tehsildar and sub-divisional magistrate subsequently examined the relevant land records and submitted reports.
According to the reports, the agreements and sale deeds executed for the disputed properties were not legally valid because the underlying land belonged to protected government categories. The findings have raised concerns over how such documents were prepared and how transactions involving government land were allowed to proceed.
The alleged fraud has also created difficulties for people who purchased land believing the documents to be genuine. Several buyers are reportedly facing the possibility of losing substantial amounts of money after discovering that the properties they paid for were government land and could not legally be transferred to them.
Elderly Man Shown as Owner in Tarsi
One of the cases under investigation concerns Mauza Tarsi. Around 2.81 bighas of land spread across 13 survey numbers and classified as barren, new fallow, old fallow and pasture land was allegedly shown as belonging to an elderly man.
Documents reportedly showed a deal for the land at ₹5 lakh. An agreement was allegedly executed with the elderly man on August 3, 2025, with ₹4 lakh recorded as advance payment. However, the original government records reportedly classified the land in categories that could not legally be transferred to a private individual.
Despite its protected status, the alleged documents were used to advance the transaction and present the property as privately owned.
Elderly Woman Shown as Owner in Adooki
A similar case has emerged from Mauza Adooki. Around 0.288 hectares of barren land spread across 11 survey numbers was allegedly shown as being owned by an elderly woman from the same village.
According to the documents examined during the inquiry, the property was allegedly shown as having been agreed for ₹5 lakh, with ₹2 lakh recorded as advance payment in an agreement dated December 20, 2024. The inquiry also found that the elderly woman died only a few days after the agreement was reportedly executed.
The cases have raised serious questions about the monitoring of government land records and the registration process. Authorities are now examining who prepared the alleged forged leases and land records, how many agreements and sale deeds were executed on their basis, and who else may have been involved in the suspected network. Further investigation is expected to establish the roles of the alleged land mafias, intermediaries and others connected with the transactions.
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.
