Nagpur: An 80-year-old woman from Nagpur was allegedly cheated of ₹21 lakh in a fraudulent land deal involving forged documents and signatures. Tehsil Police have registered a case of cheating and forgery against a builder and his two associates in connection with the scam.

The accused have been identified as Bhausaheb Vaikunthrao Shete (48), a builder from Vidya Nagar, Bhushan Nandkishore Charte (43) from Darshan Colony, Nandanvan, and Ranjit Deorao Parate (45) from New Diamond Nagar, Ramna Maruti.

The complainant, Vimal Keshavrao Kathane, a resident of Gandhibagh, owns a 3,000 sq ft plot in Diamond Cooperative Housing Society. She had planned to sell the land and contacted Shete of Aasra Builders through her son. The accused allegedly forged Kathane’s signature, affixed a fake thumb impression, and used a doctored photograph to create a fake sale deed.

Using these forged documents, the trio sold the plot for ₹21 lakh without Kathane’s knowledge or consent. After discovering the fraud, Kathane lodged a complaint at Tehsil Police Station. Following a preliminary investigation, a case was registered under sections related to cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.

Police have launched further investigation into the land scam, which raises serious concerns about fraudulent practices in Nagpur’s real estate sector.