Sub-registrar among 9 arrested for forging land documents

BELAGAVI: A land scam has been uncovered in Belagavi, where officials, including a sub-registrar, allegedly colluded with land grabbers to sell properties worth crores of rupees using fake documents. The scam came to light after six cases were reported in Hukkeri, Mudalagi and Sankeshwar.

In one case, a 2.1-acre plot in Kurani village was sold without the owner’s knowledge. The plot, belonging to Shivanand Managavi, was sold using a forged power of attorney and edited Aadhaar card. The sub-registrar, Madivalaiah Banimath, has been arrested, along with bond writer Anand Daddimani and Ashok Suryavanshi, who edited the photos.

The police are investigating how the Aadhaar card was edited using Photoshop software, and why the officials concerned failed to verify the documents. The police have registered a case and arrested nine people, including the sub-registrar, and are continuing their investigation.

Police Superintendent Ramarajan K said, “Six such cases have been registered including three in Mudalgi, and the others in Hukkeri, Yamakanmaradi and Sankeshwar. The Aadhaar card was photoshopped and in some cases PAN card was used. The accused targeted aged people or those who were not aware of the laws”.

“The Mudupaki family aided the accused in the land grab, especially Gangavva Shettappa Mudupaki (43), who is the mastermind. Her parents Shivarudra Pradhan Kudanuri and Kashavva Shivarudra Kudanuri and Gangavva’s two children would pose as the land owners and produce false identity proofs”, the SP added.