Gurugram: The Gurugram Police Crime Branch have busted an international fraud gang involved in a multi-layered property scam targeting NRIs and homeowners across several countries. The case came to light following a complaint lodged at Sadar Police Station.
The arrested accused has been identified as 31-year-old Lakhwinder Singh, a resident of Hayatpur village in Rudki Nawan City, Punjab. He was detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport on November 17 after returning from London. His arrest follows an investigation launched by the Economic Crime Branch-I on January 3, 2023, into a complex property fraud involving forged documents and impersonation.
According to the complaint, the victim and his wife, residents of Sector 31, Gurugram, own two houses in the area. In September 2021, they received a call from a property dealer claiming their “son”, Karan Bhatnagar, had taken an advance payment of Rs 15 lakh for the properties and was about to transfer Rs 1 crore via RTGS. The couple, who have no son, denied authorising any such transaction.
The fraudsters had produced falsified GPA documents, possession letters, and fake passports, claiming the supposed son lived in the United States and had not been granted any Power of Attorney. Further inquiry revealed that the name “Karan Bhatnagar” had been used to transfer the property to Lakhwinder Singh.
A police raid at Singh’s residence showed he had left for the United Kingdom in 2022. Central agencies were alerted, leading to his detention upon return. During preliminary questioning, Singh admitted the scam relied entirely on forged documents. A third aide forged passports abroad to secure a fake Power of Attorney and attempt repeated property sales. Singh, deported from the UK, faces further interrogation.