Kengeri police have detained 11 suspects, including revenue officials, for forging documents to illegally claim six acres of land belonging to the Adi Chunchanagiri Shikshana Trust, a scheme valued at nearly ₹100 crore.
Key Takeaways
- 11 individuals, including government officials, arrested for forging land records.
- Fake genealogy, death and grant certificates were used to claim six acres worth ₹100 crore.
- The case highlights collusion between private actors and revenue officers in Karnataka.
On July 14, 2026, the Kengeri police in Bengaluru announced the arrest of 11 persons accused of engineering a massive ₹100‑crore land‑grab scheme. The alleged conspirators fabricated genealogy charts, death certificates, grant deeds and other revenue documents to falsely establish ownership over six acres of land owned by the Adi Chunchanagiri Shikshana Trust in Kambipura village.
Background and Disputed Parcel
The contested six‑acre plot forms part of a larger 45‑acre parcel (Survey No. 43) within the Kenggeri hobli of Bengaluru South taluk. The trust has earmarked this land for expanding its educational facilities, a purpose that has often drawn scrutiny in Karnataka where land‑related disputes are common. By forging official records, the accused sought to mutate the title in their favour, thereby enabling a lucrative transfer that would have cost the trust close to ₹100 crore.
Investigation and Legal Framework
Following a complaint lodged by the trust’s secretary on June 10, the police registered a case under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 336(3), 329(3), 340(2) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The investigation uncovered a nexus involving private individuals and government officials who allegedly fabricated official documents and facilitated illegal mutation of the land title. This pattern of collusion underscores systemic vulnerabilities in Karnataka’s revenue administration.
Arrests and Judicial Custody
The arrested individuals have been identified as Francis, Arogyaswamy, Srinivas, Narendra Kumar, Joseph, Deepak (Deputy Tahsildar), M.P. Ravi, Kiran Kumar (Revenue Inspector), Arun Kumar (Revenue Inspector), Shivaprasad (Village Administrative Officer) and Satish Kumar (Village Administrative Officer). All have been presented before a court and remanded in judicial custody. The prime accused, Arogyaswamy, is alleged to have coordinated the forgery operation, while four others—Naresh Gowda, Srikanth, Manjunath and Raghavendra—remain at large.
Broader Implications
Further probing suggests the syndicate may have employed similar forged documents to target additional properties around Bengaluru. If confirmed, the case could set a precedent for cracking down on organized land‑grab networks that exploit bureaucratic loopholes. The police’s aggressive stance sends a clear signal that collusion between officials and private actors will face swift legal repercussions, reinforcing the need for robust safeguards over trust‑owned lands.