Chandigarh law enforcement has caught a multi-state crime network aimed at houses of Non-Resident Indians that are residing in Chandigarh and some nearby areas. This came to light when they investigated a case of illegal occupation involving conveniences and structures that were reported at Sector 36, thereby unveiling major connections as evidenced by the apprehension of eight individuals up to this point.
The probe revealed a well-coordinated operation. The accused, a family of a washerman from Uttar Pradesh along with their accomplices from Punjab, specifically targeted NRI properties due to their perceived vulnerability. They exploited the fact that these properties were often less frequently monitored by the owners residing abroad.
In the present case, the accused family, identified as Lal Bihari (53), his wife Radha Rani (51), and their children Pooja (24), Shiva (22), and Suraj Kumar (26), initially gained access to the property by posing as caretakers. Lal Bihari, who worked as a washerman for the NRI owner, took advantage of the prolonged absence to hatch the plan. The family initially moved their belongings into the property at night and removed them each morning to avoid suspicion.
The investigation further uncovered a crucial detail – forged documents. The accused created a fake General Power of Attorney (GPA) backdated to 2009 but fabricated recently in Ludhiana, Punjab. This fraudulent document gave them a supposed legal claim over the property. Using the forged GPA, they secured utilities like electricity and water connections and even obtained Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, vehicle registrations, and driving licenses linked to the property.
Following this discovery, Chandigarh Police have expanded their probe to Ludhiana. Teams have been dispatched to investigate the individuals involved in creating the forged documents. This widens the scope of the investigation, aiming to identify other properties that might have been illegally occupied using similar tactics.
Police suspect a larger scam spanning areas bordering Chandigarh, including Jalandhar, Gurgaon, and Ludhiana. To strengthen their case, they have requested property records from the Chandigarh estate office for the past 10-12 years, focusing specifically on large properties owned by NRIs with GPAs or wills documented outside the city.
Apart from the washerman’s family, five others have been arrested, including Ranjit Kaur (27) from Chandigarh, Ashok Kumar (28), and Jajbir Singh (35) from Tarn Taran, Punjab. All eight accused are currently in judicial custody.
This case highlights the vulnerability of NRI properties and the lengths some may go to exploit them. The Chandigarh Police’s proactive investigation serves as a reminder for NRIs to maintain close communication with property caretakers and establish secure channels for property management.
