The Osmania University police have arrested 10 individuals in connection with an alleged conspiracy to usurp 100 acres of prime land valued at approximately ₹700 crore in Nadergul, Hyderabad. A criminal case has been registered against 47 persons for purportedly fabricating and using a manipulated royal decree from the era of the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, to establish bogus ownership rights over the property. Among those booked is an employee of the Telangana State Archives and Research Institute, who is currently absconding.
Jagirdar Estate and Succession Claims Form Basis of Dispute
The investigation was initiated following a formal complaint lodged by Mohd Amjad, who stated that the contested land was originally part of an expansive estate belonging to Raja Shivraj Dharmavanth Bahadur, a prominent jagirdar during the Nizam’s rule, and his legal successors. According to the complaint, succession to the estate had historically been established through royal farmans granted to the descendants of the jagirdar’s brothers, Raja Lokchan Chand and Raja Murali Manohar Bahadur.
The historical succession lineage covers names such as Raja Dhiraj Karan, Raja Dharam Karan, Raja Mehboob Karan, and the heirs of Raja Manohar Raj, whose family lays claim to 373.22 acres in Nadergul. The alleged fraud specifically targets a 100-acre parcel of this broader estate. The complainant stated that the accused individuals conspired to manipulate historical records to construct an artificial basis of ownership, with the broader intention of carrying out property transactions.
Forged Farman Obtained from Telangana Archives
Police stated that the suspects procured a copy of the Nizam-era royal farman from the State Archives and Research Institute in Tarnaka on March 28, 2023. They subsequently altered the document to project fraudulent ownership rights over the 100 acres. The role of a clerical staff member at the archives, named as Accused No. 47, has drawn direct police scrutiny for allegedly facilitating the procurement of the original archival record used in the scheme.
Investigators are focusing closely on the forensic authenticity of the royal farman. The inquiry is tracking how the certified document was sourced, the specific alterations made to its contents, and the evidentiary chain through which it was introduced into legal channels to validate the claims.
Before Lok Adalat Under Police Lens
The accused had allegedly divided themselves into two separate factions, each filing parallel ownership claims over the same 100-acre parcel before the District Legal Services Authority in Rangareddy district. On February 22, 2025, both factions appeared with their respective legal counsels before a Lok Adalat, purportedly seeking a compromise settlement. Under the guise of resolving their mutual dispute, the two groups allegedly partitioned the entire 100-acre property between themselves to create a veneer of legal legitimacy and facilitate open-market commercial transactions.
Osmania University Inspector V. Dasu confirmed that the investigation is actively progressing against all 47 individuals, with efforts underway to trace the absconding archives staffer. Police are examining whether any portion of the disputed land was subjected to attempted transfers, while scrutinizing the exact procedural methods used to exploit public archival repositories and judicial forums.
Follow for daily updates on cybercrime, corporate fraud, DFIR, hacking, investigations, and digital forensics
