Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Police have uncovered a massive real estate racket, arresting 13 persons, including multiple Revenue Department officials, for allegedly plotting to illegally seize land valued at over ₹100 crore. The targeted property belongs to the Sri Adi Chunchanagiri Education Trust.

According to an official police release, the dispute involves a six-acre parcel carved out of a larger 45-acre property located under Survey No. 43 in Kambipura Village, Kengeri Hobli, within the Bengaluru South Taluk.

Investigators state that the prime suspect, Francis, conspired with corrupt Revenue Department staff to manufacture an elaborate paper trail. The fraudulent paperwork included forged death certificates, fabricated grant certificates dated back to 1960-61, and fake legal heirship documents under the name of an individual named Arogyaswamy, falsely positioning him as the rightful successor. By using these counterfeit records, the suspects successfully mutated the property records for six acres of the Trust's land in an attempt to encroach on it.

The fraudulent scheme came to light after representatives from the Sri Adi Chunchanagiri Education Trust lodged a formal complaint on June 10, 2026. Following the report, the Kumbalgodu Police registered FIR No. 140/2026, invoking Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 336(3), 329(3), 340(2) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The subsequent crackdown, spearheaded by the Kengeri Police, led to the arrest of the individuals accused of executing the forgery and attempted land grab.

The arrested civilians have been identified as Francis, Arogyaswamy, Srinivasu, Narendrakumar and Johnson.

The apprehended government workers from the Revenue Department are Deputy Tahsildars Deepak and M P Ravi, Village Accountants Rajanna and Kirankumar, Arun Kumar and Village Administrative Officers Shivaprasad and Satish Kumar.

Authorities noted that a primary suspect, also named Arogyaswamy, remains at large alongside Revenue Department officials Srikant, Manjunath and Ravindra, who are accused of facilitating the illegal record mutation and forgery. A manhunt is currently underway to locate the fugitives.

The police investigation has further revealed that this syndicate had utilised similar forged documentation strategies to target other land parcels across the region. A deeper probe into the group's wider network is ongoing.

ANI