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UP STF busts gang selling LDA plots with fake papers, six arrested
The gang had already sold over 70 LDA plots by preparing fake ownership documents and duping unsuspecting buyers, STF officials said.
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) exposed a racket after arresting six members of a gang allegedly involved in forging documents to sell Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) plots here on Thursday. The suspects were arrested near Dayal Paradise Square in Gomti Nagar late in the evening.
The gang had already sold over 70 LDA plots by preparing fake ownership documents and duping unsuspecting buyers, STF officials said.
The STF recovered 23 fake registry papers, nine mobile phones, two cars, ₹12,710 cash, two bank passbooks, six chequebooks, four cheques, and a computer (CPU and monitor) from the suspects, the STF said in a press release.
An STF official said that those arrested have been identified as Achaleshwar Gupta alias Bablu Gupta (52), Ram Bahadur Singh (58), Sachin Singh alias Amar Singh Rathore (26), Mukesh Maurya alias Rangi (36), Rahul Singh (35), and Dhananjay Singh (34)—all resident of Lucknow.
The gang operated by targeting vacant LDA plots and used fake documents to register and sell them fraudulently, the press release stated.
Modus operandi
The official said, Achaleshwar Gupta, the gang’s alleged mastermind, admitted during interrogation that he collaborated with insiders at LDA to identify vacant plots that had been unclaimed for years. After collecting detailed information about these properties, the gang would fabricate Aadhaar cards, property papers, and other ownership documents in the name of the actual owners. Using these fake credentials, they sold the plots to unsuspecting buyers, registering the properties under false identities, the press release said.
Each gang member played a specific role in the operation. Achaleshwar Gupta allegedly led the gang and coordinated with LDA staff to gather information about unclaimed plots. Ram Bahadur Singh allegedly specialised in preparing fake property documents, while Sachin Singh allegedly brought potential buyers. Mukesh Maurya allegedly handled the creation of forged identity proof and Rahul Singh allegedly arranged witnesses to validate the fraudulent property transfers. Dhananjay Singh assisted in logistical tasks and managing stolen documents, the STF stated in the press release.
The official said that the investigation began after Sarvesh Kumar Gautam, a resident of Bhopal, filed a complaint with the STF on January 21, 2025, alleging fraudulent activities related to an LDA plot. Acting on the complaint, the STF team, led by DySP Deepak Kumar Singh, launched a probe.
After weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering, the STF received a tip-off that Sachin Singh was scheduled to meet his associates near Dayal Paradise Square in Gomti Nagar. The STF team raided the location and arrested all six gang members.
The official said that the STF is now investigating other fraudulent registrations carried out by the gang and collecting information about land mafias who may have used their services. Officials are also examining the list of LDA plots where similar forgeries may have occurred and identifying potential victims of the scam.
The accused remain in police custody, and authorities are preparing to file additional charges as the investigation progresses. The STF has vowed to intensify its crackdown on organised crime rings exploiting legal loopholes to commit property fraud in Lucknow.
