Belagavi police have registered cases against nine persons, including a sub-registrar, in connection with alleged illegal land transfers using forged documents. The accused are suspected of trying to take over property worth several crores in Hukkeri, Sankeshwar, and Yamakanamaradi areas.
Based on a complaint filed by Shivanand Maruti Kudanuri of Kurani village in Hukkeri taluk on January 22, police launched an investigation into the case. He alleged that a group of individuals had colluded with government officials to illegally transfer land worth nearly ₹2 crore by using fake identity documents.
Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan said three cases were registered at Hukkeri, Sankeshwar, and Yamakanamaradi police stations. In one case, Hukkeri police arrested nine persons, including sub-registrar Madiwalayya Basavaraj Banimath and bond writer Anand Daddimani. In another case, Banimath and Daddimani appeared before the Yamakanamaradi police after securing anticipatory bail on February 8.
During the investigation, police raided the residence of accused Neelakantha Shetteppa Mudupaki and seized 22 forged documents, including fake Aadhaar, PAN, and voter ID cards. A raid was also conducted at Suryavanshi Photo Studio, owned by Ashok Suryavanshi, where officials recovered equipment such as computers, cameras, printers, and a lamination machine allegedly used to prepare counterfeit documents.
Police also arrested Mudupaki, Suryavanshi, and their associate Vijay Shivshankar Mathad. The other accused include Renuka Shankar Mali, Shivarudra Pradhani Kudnuri, Kashavva Shivarudra Kudnuri, Siddayya Nirupadayya Hiremath, and Adiveppa Shetteppa Mudupaki, all residents of Kurani village.
Investigators said around six acres of land were illegally transferred in May and June 2025 by impersonating the original owners. The accused allegedly first transferred the property to another person and then sold it immediately. The sub-registrars reportedly allowed registrations to proceed without Aadhaar authentication and proper verification of documents, despite clear irregularities.
Police are also searching for another sub-registrar who was posted at Sankeshwar during the period of the alleged fraud. The case follows a similar land scam exposed recently in Waghawade village, though no sub-registrar was named in that incident.
Further investigation is underway, police said.
