Ludhiana Police Book Chandigarh Resident and Associates Over ₹7.61 Crore Land Agreement Dispute

The Sarabha Nagar police in Ludhiana have registered a case against Chandigarh resident Meetinder Singh Mann and nine others for allegedly defrauding a Ludhiana-based real estate firm of ₹7.61 crore in a land investment deal in Mohali.

The complaint was filed by Pardeep Kumar, an authorised representative of a real estate and infrastructure development company headquartered in Ludhiana. According to the complaint, the company sought to expand its operations in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) and was exploring investment opportunities in and around New Chandigarh.

Meetinder Singh Mann allegedly approached the company, presenting himself as a well-connected individual with extensive knowledge of land transactions in New Chandigarh. He claimed to have significant influence in the region and assured assistance in acquiring land by introducing the firm to potential sellers and negotiating deals.

Trusting these representations, the company authorised Mann to act on its behalf to secure land in Mullanpur Gareeb Das village, Mohali. Between April and September 2022, the firm transferred ₹7.61 crore to Mann’s account, believing that the money would be used to finalize land deals with various individuals, including Daljit Singh, Kasturi Lal, Rajwant Kaur, Bhupinder Singh, Kuldeep Kaur, Surinder Kaur, Daljit Singh, Gurdeep Katin, Baljinder Singh, Harmit Singh, Harpreet Kaur, and Manjeet Kaur.

Mann allegedly provided the company with copies of multiple “Agreements to Sell” as proof of progress. However, the anticipated sale deeds and property registrations did not materialize. When the company demanded the execution of legal transfers, Mann reportedly stopped responding.

According to the company, out of the total funds transferred, approximately ₹4.55 crore was allegedly misappropriated under the pretense of earnest money and land acquisition costs. Based on the complaint, police have registered a case against Mann and nine others under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Assistant Superintendent of Police Umesh Kumar, who is leading the investigation, stated that further inquiries are ongoing. Law enforcement officials are examining financial records to track the flow of funds and identify all individuals involved in the transactions.

The company has alleged that Mann deliberately misled them into believing the land acquisition process was progressing while diverting the funds elsewhere. The police are now tracing the movement of money through different bank accounts and verifying whether payments were made to any legitimate landowners. Investigators are also checking whether the agreements provided by Mann were fabricated or if they involved collusion with third parties. Authorities have not yet confirmed any arrests in the case.

The real estate company claims that multiple reminders and legal notices were sent to Mann and his associates, but no response was received. They eventually decided to file a police complaint when it became clear that the promised sale deeds would not be executed. The police are in the process of gathering statements from all the named individuals and cross-checking property records to determine the extent of the alleged fraud. Officials are also investigating whether Mann and his associates were involved in similar cases in the past.

The case highlights the risks associated with real estate transactions and the need for thorough due diligence before transferring large sums of money. The company has urged authorities to take swift action to recover the funds and hold those responsible accountable. Meanwhile, police have advised potential investors to verify land records and conduct background checks on intermediaries before entering into real estate agreements.

The investigation is expected to continue over the coming weeks as authorities scrutinize financial documents, bank transfers, and property-related paperwork to establish the sequence of events and locate the missing funds. The police have also sought legal opinions on the agreements provided by the accused to determine their authenticity and any potential legal loopholes that may have been exploited.

Law enforcement agencies are also coordinating with banking institutions to track fund transfers and identify whether the accused used shell companies or third-party accounts to obscure transactions. The complainant has stated that their firm relied on Mann’s assurances and documentation, which initially appeared legitimate but later proved to be fraudulent. Further action will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation, with legal proceedings expected to follow based on evidence collected by the authorities.