Bengaluru police arrest Sattva group VP in multi-crore land scam

Bengaluru

Avalahalli police have arrested Ashwin Sancheti, the Group Vice President of Sattva Resi Private Limited, in connection with an alleged land fraud involving a 10-acre plot in Bandapura. 

Sancheti and 13 others have been booked under Sections 3(5), 335, 335(A)(iii), 337, 339, 340, 341, 323, 324, 329, 126, 351(1), 351(2), 351(4), 240, 242, 246, 314, 318, 319, 322, and 308 of the Bharatiya Nayaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The accused allegedly forged documents to claim ownership of the land, which is valued in the crores. The arrest follows a detailed investigation initiated after a complaint was filed by Venkappa K in Avalahalli police station. Vekatappa K holds power of attorney for R Radha, who is orginal land owner. 

According to sources, the 10-acre land is located in Survey Nos. 20, 21, and 44/1 in Bandapura. Venkappa, who originally owned the property, had transferred it to a couple named Krishna and Radha in 1978. Following Krishna’s death in 1986, Radha, who had no children, became the sole holder of the land. However, the accused allegedly attempted to seize control of the property by creating fraudulent documents, including fake General Power of Attorney (GPA) records.

The scam came to light when Radha, who had moved to Tamil Nadu after her husband’s passing, returned to Bengaluru and discovered discrepancies in the land records. She approached the Avalahalli Police Station, reporting that her land had been fraudulently transferred. After a thorough investigation, police found that Ashwin Sancheti and others involved in the scam had forged documents to unlawfully claim the land.  

Officials have confirmed that several individuals, including local residents and alleged collaborators, were involved in the creation of these fake documents, which facilitated the illegal land grab. Among those named in the investigation are Lok Sundar, Dhruv Kumar, Meenakshi, and Dr. Lavanya, who are accused of aiding in the fraudulent activities.

The police have seized various documents and are continuing to examine the scale of the fraud. The authorities are also working on tracing any further individuals who may have been part of the operation. Sancheti is currently in police custody.

This case highlights the growing concern over land frauds in the region, with authorities pledging to intensify their efforts to curb such crimes in the future. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are expected.