PRAYAGRAJ, July 6 -- A major land fraud has come to light in Pratapgarh, where several buyers, including a doctor from Prayagraj, were allegedly cheated after property dealers sold far more land than they actually owned. Following an inquiry ordered by the Prayagraj Inspector General (IG), six FIRs have been registered at the City Kotwali and Raniganj police stations. One of the complainants, Dr Zuber Ahmed, an MD physician at Motilal Nehru Colvin Divisional Hospital in Prayagraj, alleged that he was duped of Rs 26 lakh in a land deal. According to the FIR lodged at City Kotwali, Ashraf alias Bablu, a resident of Bakra Mandi area, had developed acquaintance with Dr Ahmed's family and offered to sell him a plot near an under-construction 100-bed hospital and engineering college on the banks of the Sai river. Dr Ahmed said he paid Rs 26 lakh and got the sale deed registered on March 17, 2023. Another accused, Nadeem of Bhuliapur, was also allegedly involved in the transaction. Although the land was shown at a particular location, possession was never handed over. Subsequent inquiries allegedly revealed that the sellers had purchased only 40 biswas of land but had sold 107 biswas to multiple buyers. When he sought possession and questioned the transaction, the accused allegedly threatened him with dire consequences.The probe also uncovered similar complaints from several other buyers. Sheetla Prasad, a resident of Parsa Mau under Fatanpur police station in Pratapgarh, alleged that he paid Rs 4.19 lakh for a plot in Dilippur Chalakpur in his wife Sushila Devi's name but did not receive possession even after three years. He claimed that the seller, Mohiuddin alias Shadab, kept delaying the matter and later it emerged that the land sold exceeded the actual area owned by him. Similar FIRs were lodged by Sanju Devi of Gadwara, Ramesh Chandra Gupta of Raniganj, Gyanti Devi of Ramgarh and Shambhu Nath Yadav of Fatanpur, all alleging that they had paid for plots but failed to obtain possession. A revenue department investigation reportedly confirmed the allegations. Officials found that the accused owned only 40 biswas of land but had executed sale deeds for 107 biswas to more than 50 buyers. The inquiry report found that forged documents were used in the transactions and recommended legal action. Although the issue was earlier raised through the IGRS, complainants alleged no action was taken. IG Ajay Kumar Mishra said a fresh inquiry found multiple people were allegedly cheated through fraudulent land deals. FIRs have now been registered and further investigation is under way...