LUCKNOW, July 4 -- The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has uncovered an alleged land fraud after a real estate company used a forged No Objection Certificate (NoC) to facilitate development on land already acquired by the authority in Gomti Nagar Extension. Acting on the findings of an inquiry ordered by vice-chairman Prathamesh Kumar, the LDA has lodged an FIR against the company and unidentified persons at Sushant Golf City police station on Friday, stated in an LDA press release on Friday. According to it, the alleged forgery came to light after LDA officials received a copy of a purported NOC through WhatsApp. The document, issued in favour of a private agency carried the name, signature and official seal of the Assistant Consolidation Officer (Land Acquisition). During verification, the LDA found that the authority had never issued the document. Officials confirmed that the signatures, office seal and other official details on the NOC were forged. The inquiry also established that false information had been incorporated into the document to portray it as genuine and facilitate development activities on the land. The forged NOC pertained to land in village Ardonamau of Sarojini Nagar tehsil. According to LDA records, the land was acquired in 2001 under the Amar Shaheed Path Gomti Nagar Extension Scheme. After completion of acquisition proceedings, ownership of the land vested with the State government and the LDA, making any private development without the authority's approval illegal. LDA assistant consolidation officer Tulsi Ram said the investigation indicated that the company, in collusion with unidentified persons, prepared forged documents and attempted to misuse LDA's name to gain unlawful benefits. Based on the findings, an FIR has been registered, and the police have begun an investigation into the alleged forgery and fraud....