A major land fraud case has come to light in Mansa district, Punjab, where a retired school teacher allegedly cheated a local physiotherapist out of ₹36 lakh by selling him a parcel of land that actually belonged to a local police station. The scam was exposed when the buyer attempted to initiate construction work on the site and was abruptly stopped by locals and authorities. Subsequent revenue verifications confirmed that the land in question falls under the jurisdiction of the Bareta City Police Station.
The Fraud Unfolds: Deal Signed for ₹32 Lakh
The victim, Satbir Singh, who works as a physiotherapist, shared that the transaction took place approximately six months ago. He agreed to purchase three biswa of land from the accused, Bilas Chand, a retired school teacher, for an agreed price of ₹32 lakh. To complete the transaction legally, Satbir spent an additional ₹4 lakh on registry paperwork, stamp duty, and government processing fees, bringing his total financial outlay to ₹36 lakh. Everything appeared legitimate on paper until Satbir attempted to take physical possession of the property.
Discovery of the Scam During Construction
The fraud surfaced when Satbir Singh hired laborers and reached the site to lay the foundation for a commercial shop. As workers began digging, local residents intervened and halted the work, informing him that the property did not belong to the seller. Following the dispute, an official revenue department demarcation was conducted. The detailed records revealed that the specific piece of land actually formed part of the property allocated to the City Bareta Police Station. Satbir stated that he attempted to take possession six separate times, but was turned away each time. When confronted, the retired teacher refused to cooperate or take responsibility for the invalid sale.
Family in Financial Distress Demands Strict Police Action
The victim’s father, Gurnam Singh, expressed deep emotional and financial distress over the ordeal. He revealed that the family had to take high-interest loans and sell family jewelry to raise the required ₹36 lakh for the land purchase. Desperate for justice, the family lodged a formal complaint at the Bareta Police Station seeking immediate legal action against the accused and a full refund of their hard-earned money. They expressed disappointment over initial delays and demanded a thorough, transparent investigation.
Police Assurance and Senior Official’s Response
Addressing the serious allegations, Mansa Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bhagirath Singh Meena assured that the matter is being investigated thoroughly. He stated that the police department takes property fraud extremely seriously, particularly when public institutions are implicated. SSP Meena assured that if the allegations are validated during the formal inquiry, strict criminal charges will be registered against the accused teacher, and legal recovery proceedings will be initiated.
