Hyderabad Police Crack Down on ₹5 Crore Land Scam, 8 Arrested
Hyderabad police have dismantled a major land scam operation in Rachakonda, arresting eight individuals involved in forging documents to sell open plots. The gang targeted properties owned by elderly individuals, using fake death certificates and legal heir documents to impersonate rightful owners.
Land ScamReal EstateRachakondaForgeryPoliceReal EstateAug 28, 2025
The gang's modus operandi involved identifying unfenced plots, particularly those owned by elderly individuals who rarely visited their property. Once suitable plots were identified, the accused would obtain Encumbrance Certificates (ECs) to ensure no recent transactions had been recorded. They then forged sale deeds, death certificates, family certificates, and even passports to pose as rightful owners or their heirs.
In one notable case, the gang created fake death certificates for both the owner of a plot and his wife, followed by a fabricated heir certificate. A woman from the gang, Veramachineni Vanaja, then posed as the legal heir and executed a sale deed in favor of another accused. In another instance, a fabricated Special Power of Attorney was prepared to suggest that the actual landowner had moved abroad. The property, as discovered by the police, belonged to a retired army personnel who had purchased the plot with his pension savings in 1983.
Those arrested include Beegudem Aravind, a bike mechanic from Rampally; Sampangi Suresh and Eega Hari Prasad, both in real estate; Chekkala Somnath, a real estate dealer from Ramanthapur; Kotla Nagendra Prasad, a freelance loans broker; Mir Mohammed Hussain, a graphic designer and Rapido rider; Yamjala Shekar, a private employee from Ibrahimpatnam; and Vanaja, a resident of Vijayawada. Four others identified as Amarender, Manik, Ahmed, and Musku Sunil Kumar remain at large, along with six additional suspects.
From the arrested individuals, police seized laptops, printers, a polymer machine, scanners, fake stamp pads, fabricated property documents, and chemicals used in forgery. A car and seven mobile phones were also recovered.
Several of the accused were already known to the police. Kotla Nagendra Prasad had been booked in multiple cases of cheating and forgery since 2009 at Meerpet and Panjagutta police stations. Somnath had three cases registered against him since 2016, while Hari Prasad was named in at least four cases in Keesara alone, including one as recent as this year.
Police officials stated that proposals to book the accused under the Preventive Detention (PD) Act are under consideration. Issuing a warning to the public, Rachakonda Police reiterated their commitment to eradicating such malpractices and warned the public against engaging in or facilitating the creation of fraudulent documents. Strict legal action will be taken against all individuals involved in such illegal activities.
Officials also advised property buyers to verify documents before purchase. Citizens were urged to check stamp paper authenticity through sub-registrar offices, authorised banks, or the official website www.shcilestamp.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the total amount involved in the land scam?
The total amount involved in the land scam was ₹5 crore.
How did the gang identify the plots they targeted?
The gang targeted open plots in Rampally village and Ghatkesar, particularly those owned by elderly individuals who rarely visited their property. They obtained Encumbrance Certificates (ECs) to ensure no recent transactions had been recorded.
Who were the main individuals arrested in this operation?
The main individuals arrested include Beegudem Aravind, Sampangi Suresh, Eega Hari Prasad, Chekkala Somnath, Kotla Nagendra Prasad, Mir Mohammed Hussain, Yamjala Shekar, and Veramachineni Vanaja.
What kind of documents did the gang forge?
The gang forged sale deeds, death certificates, family certificates, passports, and even a Special Power of Attorney to pose as rightful owners or their heirs.
What advice did the police give to the public?
The police advised property buyers to verify documents before purchase and to check stamp paper authenticity through sub-registrar offices, authorised banks, or the official website www.shcilestamp.com.
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