The investigation into a multi-crore land grab case in Thiruvananthapuram has reached a critical phase with the arrest of Sasthamangalom Sub-Registrar K.S. Lakshmi. Lakshmi, a native of the city, is accused of facilitating the fraudulent transfer of a house and land worth around Rs 4.5 crore using forged documents. The police revealed that a 14.5-cent plot of land and a residential house were illegally taken over by preparing fake title deeds.
The accused allegedly mortgaged the property in the name of an individual falsely presented as the owner’s adopted daughter. Subsequently, the property was sold to another individual through a forged sale deed. Investigators have pointed out that Lakshmi actively participated in enabling the registration of the fake documents and provided logistical support to the accused. The use of forged identity documents, including fake ID cards, was also highlighted during the registration process.
To avoid suspicion, the accused reportedly obtained signatures on the documents outside the Sub-Registrar’s Office, allegedly facilitated by Lakshmi. It was disclosed that Lakshmi received a bribe and mobile phones from the prime accused in exchange for her cooperation. The forged sale deed listed several individuals as witnesses, including the alleged gang leader and others connected to the case.
Initially, Lakshmi claimed that the registration was done after verifying the submitted identity documents. However, this assertion was disproved by cyber evidence collected by the police. Following the exposure of the fraud, Lakshmi was issued a show-cause notice by the Registration Inspector General. The investigation team anticipates that further interrogation of Lakshmi will reveal more details about additional transactions and other individuals involved in the property scam.
