Vijayapura police detect land grabbing of 158 acres, arrest 200 accused

Vijayapura police uncover land grabbing scheme, arresting 200 suspects and are in the process of returning 158 acres to rightful owners.

In a major operation involving coordination between various departments, a special task force of the Vijayapura police detected a gang that was involved in land grab using fake documents.

STF officers, led by Additional Superintendent of Police Ramanagouda Hatti, managed to arrest 200 persons, with regard to 27 cases, where the accused had managed to grab around 158 acres of land in the district.

The alleged offences were committed between 2022 and 2024. Police officers have not only managed to file charge sheets, but also return the land to the real owners. A detailed report has been submitted to courts.

The victims were senior citizens, or those who did not live near their land, or those who had ancestral land in Vijayapura, but had migrated to other cities in Karnataka or other States long ago.

Touts kept an eye on such deserted properties. They colluded with some agents, criminal elements and some officials to prepare fake documents that were required during sale and purchase. They managed to get the transactions done in cash and never sought any loan. The properties were duly registered in the absence of the real owners. The offenders had formed a clique involving real estate agents, bond writers, some employees of the government of Karnataka, and some criminals.

Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi has urged property owners to take steps to protect their assets. “They should remain alert all the time. They should regularly visit their properties, fence them, obtain updated land records, and keep document secure.”