NRI's land illegally sold in Punjab; 1 arrested

LUDHIANA: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has registered a case against nine individuals including a tehsildar, an advocate, a nambardar and others, for fraudulently executing the sale deed of 14 Kanal land in Ludhiana, that belongs to an NRI residing in the USA, using forged documents. In this connection, VB has arrested Advocate Gurcharan Singh of Ludhiana, who played a key role in facilitating the fake land registration worth crores of rupees.
An official spokesperson of the VB said a surprise check was conducted by VB Range Ludhiana at the Sub-Registrar Office, Tehsil West, Ludhiana, on February 21, 2025, following intelligence inputs regarding a fraudulent land registration. Investigations revealed that a sale deed of this prime land near Ladhowal-Verka bypass, had been executed on February 11, 2025, between Deep Singh (seller) and Deepak Goel of Panchkula (buyer) at a cost of Rs 30 lakh whereas its market value is Rs 6 crores, approximately. However, it was found that the actual owner, Deep Singh, has been residing in the USA, while an imposter had appeared at the Tehsil office for the registration.
The spokesperson added that the original sale deed was taken into possession during the surprise check, and verification confirmed the fraud. The sale deed was executed by Tehsildar West Ludhiana, Jagsir Singh Saran, in the presence of a fake Deep Singh. On behalf of buyer Deepak Goel, an individual named Amit Gaur appeared and signed the registration documents. The witnesses, including property dealer Raghbir Singh, Advocate Gurcharan Singh, and Namberdar Baghel Singh, had identified the imposter as the genuine landowner.
Further inquiry established that the land in question, measuring 14 Kanal, is located in Village Noorpur Bet, under the jurisdiction of Police Station Ladhowal, Ludhiana. The real owner, Deep Singh, aged 55, has been living in the USA since birth along with his family. However, during the fraudulent registration process, the imposter used a forged Aadhaar card and PAN card, misrepresenting his age as 39 years (born in 1985), whereas the actual Deep Singh was born in 1971.
The spokesperson added that the probe also found serious lapses on the part of revenue officials, who failed to verify the antecedents of those involved. Based on the evidence and investigation report an FIR on Thursday was registered under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2), and 61(2) of BNS at the Economic Offences Wing of VB, and investigation has been entrusted to VB Range Ludhiana. The accused include Tehsildar Jagsir Singh Saran, buyer Deepak Goel, Namberdar Baghel Singh, registry clerk Krishan Gopal, Advocate Gurcharan Singh, Amit Gaur, the fake Deep Singh, a computer operator, and property dealer Raghbir Singh.
On the basis of the investigation report, VB has arrested Advocate Gurcharan Singh, who had signed as a witness and identified the fake Deep Singh. He will be produced in court on Saturday. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to arrest the remaining accused, the spokesperson added.