Saharanpur: n a major breakthrough, police in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district have uncovered a highly organised gang that systematically targeted properties owned by people living in cities such as Delhi and Mumbai. The gang allegedly forged identity documents, created duplicate owner profiles, and—with the help of insiders in the tehsil—managed to execute fraudulent land registrations worth lakhs.
Fraud Exposed After Mumbai Resident Files Complaint
The scam came to light in Biharigarh police station limits after Mumbai resident Rohit Darshan Bhalla lodged a complaint stating that a plot belonging to his maternal uncle, Subhash Chandra Basandhara, had been sold using forged documents. The disputed land, measuring roughly one-and-a-quarter bighas, was transferred using fake Aadhaar and PAN cards, doctored photographs, fabricated thumb impressions, and forged signatures.
Police investigations revealed that the gang had created an entirely fake individual to pose as the legitimate landowner, complete with falsified identification details. This forged identity was then used to carry out the registry inside the tehsil office—indicating deep-rooted collusion within the administrative setup.
Tehsil-Level Conspiracy Behind the Fraud
Addressing the media at the Police Lines auditorium, SP Dehat Sagar Jain said the gang executed the fraud with meticulous planning and precision. The land, valued at nearly ₹20 lakh, was illegally sold through a combination of counterfeit documents and impersonation.
Two accused—Furkan and deed writer Sangam Saini—were the first to be arrested. Saini is believed to have played a crucial role in preparing fake files and processing forged paperwork at the tehsil. Their interrogation led police to identify a larger, organised network of eight members operating across the region.
Six Arrested So Far; Mastermind Identified
Further probes resulted in the arrest of another gang member, Mangeram, who in turn provided names of his accomplices—Mohan alias Monu, Israr, and Zulfkar Tyagi alias Guddu Tyagi. All three were picked up in subsequent raids.
According to police officials, the gang’s kingpin is Israr, who already has a criminal history involving fake documentation. Sangam Saini allegedly assisted him by running a full-fledged “factory” for counterfeit papers within the tehsil premises. Two cars and three mobile phones have been seized from the accused, and police are analysing call records and digital data to uncover further links.
How the Gang Operated
During interrogation, the accused laid out their entire modus operandi:
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Identify vulnerable properties
They searched for plots whose owners lived outside Uttar Pradesh or had not visited their land for years. -
Create forged identities
Gang members prepared fake Aadhaar and PAN cards of the real owners, affixing fabricated photographs and copying signatures and thumb impressions. -
Produce a fake owner for registration
One member would impersonate the landowner and visit the tehsil office to execute the registry.
Police believe that without the cooperation of certain insiders at the tehsil, such fraudulent transactions would not have been possible. Officials suspect the gang had a broader network operating across western UP and may have targeted several more properties had the complaint not been filed in time.
Case Registered in July; Investigation Expands
SP Sagar Jain confirmed that the case was formally registered on 24 July at Biharigarh police station, naming four individuals initially. With six arrests already made, multiple police teams are now actively searching for the remaining members and investigating the involvement of tehsil staff who may have facilitated the fraud.
Authorities have assured that all implicated officials will face strict action. The crackdown marks one of the most significant blows against land mafias operating in Uttar Pradesh in recent months and underscores the growing need for secure, digital land records to prevent such scams.
