Bilaspur, India: A case of alleged land fraud has surfaced in Bilaspur, where the director of FM Group and his associates are accused of cheating a government employee of ₹13.5 lakh on the pretext of selling land.
The complainant, Ravikant Sharma, a clerk posted at the Bilaspur Collectorate and a resident of Sai Nagar in Uslapur, has lodged a complaint at Sakri police station. According to Sharma, he entered into an agreement with Shohel Murtaza, director of FM Group, to purchase a 940-square-foot plot located in the Sakri area under Ameri Patwari Circle.
Sharma stated that the land was claimed to be registered in the name of FM Group. On October 18, 2023, he paid ₹50,000 in cash as an initial amount. Subsequently, through multiple installments paid in cash and via cheque, he transferred a total of ₹13.5 lakh to the accused. The remaining ₹2.75 lakh was to be paid at the time of land registration.
The agreement also included Wasama Asmi, Nandan, and Mohammad Anis Qadri as parties. However, despite receiving the money, the accused neither completed the land registration nor refunded the amount.
Later, the agreement was cancelled, and Sharma was given a cheque of ₹5.5 lakh as partial repayment, which bounced when deposited in the bank. The accused then allegedly promised to repay ₹1 lakh every month, but no payments were made.
After repeated follow-ups and mounting distress, Sharma approached the police. Sakri police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the matter.