Madhya Pradesh: Dead farmer’s land sold using expired power of attorney; EOW books fraud case

BHOPAL: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has registered a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy after an investigation found that agricultural land belonging to a dead farmer was illegally sold using an expired power of attorney.The case is based on a written complaint filed on June 18, 2025, by Yogesh Kushwaha, a resident of Barkhedi village in Jawar tehsil. In his complaint, Kushwaha alleged that Nehru Nagar resident Maniraj Singh, along with others, colluded to sell the agricultural land of farmer Achal Singh Mewara even after his death, by misusing a power of attorney.EOW’s probe revealed that Achal Singh Mewara, the original owner of agricultural land located in Barkheda Nathu village under Jawar tehsil, had executed a registered power of attorney in favour of Maniraj Singh on December 18, 2018, for a portion of his land. The power of attorney was valid only during the farmer’s lifetime. Achal Singh Mewara died on February 7, 2022, which, under law, automatically rendered the document invalid.Investigators said that after the death of a landowner, it is the legal responsibility of the power-of-attorney holder to inform the concerned registration office and proceed strictly as per legal provisions. However, in this case, the accused allegedly concealed the farmer’s death and deliberately violated this obligation, misleading government authorities, land buyers and the general public.According to EOW, the accused neither informed the registration office about the death nor stopped using the invalid power of attorney. Instead, between February 2022 and December 2022, they executed nine separate sale deeds by carving the land into different plots and selling them to multiple individuals, thereby earning illegal financial gains.The agency examined registration records, property software data, the death certificate, banking details and statements of concerned persons. The investigation established that the power of attorney was knowingly misused even after the death of the farmer to carry out illegal land registrations and sales.On the basis of prima facie evidence, EOW has registered a case against Maniraj Singh and others under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. Further investigation in the case is continuing.