In a major breakthrough, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) exposed a large-scale racket involving forged documents for selling plots under the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA). The gang, responsible for defrauding buyers of over 70 LDA plots, was dismantled after the arrest of six members on Thursday near Dayal Paradise Square in Gomti Nagar.
The arrested suspects were identified as Achaleshwar Gupta alias Bablu Gupta (52), Ram Bahadur Singh (58), Sachin Singh alias Amar Singh Rathore (26), Mukesh Maurya alias Rangi (36), Rahul Singh (35), and Dhananjay Singh (34), all residents of Lucknow. They were caught with a substantial haul of forged documents, including 23 fake registry papers, nine mobile phones, two cars, Rs12,710 in cash, two bank passbooks, six chequebooks, four cheques, and a computer system.
According to STF officials, the gang operated by targeting vacant plots under the LDA’s jurisdiction. They would then fabricate fake ownership documents, including Aadhaar cards and property papers, in the names of the rightful owners, thereby creating fraudulent property transfers. These forged documents were used to sell plots to unsuspecting buyers.
The mastermind behind the racket, Achaleshwar Gupta, reportedly collaborated with insiders at the LDA to identify unclaimed plots. He coordinated with his associates to prepare fake documents and arrange for the sale of these plots. Gupta confessed during interrogation that the gang was well-organized, with each member playing a specific role. Ram Bahadur Singh was responsible for preparing the fake property documents, while Sachin Singh targeted potential buyers. Mukesh Maurya created forged identity proofs, and Rahul Singh arranged for witnesses to validate the fraudulent transactions. Dhananjay Singh handled logistical tasks related to managing stolen documents.
The investigation began after Sarvesh Kumar Gautam, a resident of Bhopal, lodged a complaint with the STF on January 21, 2025, alleging fraudulent activity surrounding an LDA plot. Acting on the tip, the STF, led by DySP Deepak Kumar Singh, initiated a thorough probe. Following weeks of surveillance, the STF received information that Sachin Singh would meet his associates at Dayal Paradise Square. A raid was conducted, resulting in the arrest of all six gang members.
Authorities are now investigating other fraudulent registrations that may have been conducted by this gang and examining potential links to land mafias that may have used their services. The STF is also cross-referencing LDA plots for possible similar forgeries and identifying victims of the scam.
The accused are currently in police custody, and additional charges are expected to be filed as the investigation progresses. The STF has pledged to intensify efforts to combat property fraud in Lucknow and target organised crime rings exploiting legal loopholes for financial gain.
