The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Bhopal has taken legal action in a disturbing case of property fraud, where agricultural land belonging to a deceased farmer was illicitly sold by misusing a power of attorney that had expired upon his death.
Complaint Unveils Alleged Conspiracy
The case stems from a formal complaint lodged on June 18, 2025, by Yogesh Kushwaha, a resident of Barkhedi village in Jawar tehsil. Kushwaha alleged that Maniraj Singh, a resident of Nehru Nagar, along with other individuals, conspired to sell the agricultural land of farmer Achal Singh Mewara after his passing. The sale was allegedly facilitated by the misuse of a power of attorney document.
How the Fraud Was Executed
An EOW investigation revealed the precise mechanism of the alleged fraud. The original landowner, Achal Singh Mewara, had indeed executed a registered power of attorney in favour of Maniraj Singh on December 18, 2018, for a portion of his land in Barkheda Nathu village. However, a critical legal condition was attached: the power of attorney was valid only during the farmer's lifetime.
Achal Singh Mewara passed away on February 7, 2022. Under the law, his death automatically rendered the power of attorney null and void. Investigators clarified that it becomes the legal duty of the power-of-attorney holder to inform the relevant registration office of the death and follow legal procedures thereafter.
In this instance, the EOW alleges that the accused deliberately concealed the farmer's death. They failed to notify the registration office and continued to use the invalidated document. Between February 2022 and December 2022, the accused executed nine separate sale deeds. They carved the land into different plots and sold them to multiple buyers, thereby securing illegal financial gains.
Evidence and Legal Action
The agency built its case by meticulously examining multiple sources of evidence. Their probe included scrutiny of:
- Registration records and property software data.
- The official death certificate of Achal Singh Mewara.
- Relevant banking details.
- Statements from concerned persons.
The investigation conclusively established that the power of attorney was knowingly misused after the farmer's death to carry out illegal land registrations and sales.
Based on the prima facie evidence, the EOW has registered a formal case against Maniraj Singh and others. They have been charged under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. The investigation into the matter is currently ongoing to uncover further details and identify all involved parties.
