Nagpur: Once notorious for duping unsuspecting homebuyers, the city’s land mafia has now shifted focus toward builders and layout developers — enticing them with promises of clearing “disputed” plots through political or bureaucratic influence. This emerging trend has sparked a new wave of multi-crore frauds, exposing a deep-rooted nexus between land manipulators and corrupt intermediaries.

According to Nagpur Police, land-related cheating cases involving developers have seen a sharp rise in recent months. However, many victims remain silent, fearing damage to their professional reputation. “Fraudsters lure builders with offers of lucrative but disputed land, assuring quick clearance through powerful contacts. Several developers have fallen prey to such false claims,” said police sources.

In one of the latest incidents, real estate developer Motilal Jiyalal Chaudhary (46) of Rajeshwar Park, Manish Nagar, alleged that he was cheated of ₹3 crore by Ramankar Krishnamohan Korpati (54), Madhukar Korpati (57), and Srinivas Korpati (53) — all residents of Bhendala, Tarsa, Mouda — along with brokers Vikram Meshram and Ashok Aswani.

“The accused produced fake clearance papers for land adjoining my ongoing project and claimed they could resolve ownership disputes. I paid them ₹3 crore in instalments. Later, I discovered the land actually belonged to the Forest Department,” Chaudhary told media. “When confronted, they assured me they would regularize it using their contacts. Later, I learned other developers had been duped in the same manner.”

Names such as the Korpati family, Dilip Gwalbanshi, and Shoeb Asad have repeatedly appeared in similar complaints filed at multiple police stations, suggesting the existence of an organised network of land racketeers operating across Nagpur.

Confirming the development, Deputy Commissioner of Police (EoW) Mahak Swami said, “Land scams have become frequent in Nagpur, and even reputed builders are falling victim. These racketeers attract targets with low-cost plots and fake assurances of clearance. Police are taking strict action against such offenders and urge victims to register complaints at the nearest police station or with the EoW.”

With land frauds increasingly targeting developers, authorities warn that early reporting and public awareness are crucial to curbing the city’s growing menace of fraudulent land dealings.