Sub-Registrar held for facilitating fraud in land registration

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) arrested Jafar Sadiq, former Madhavaram Sub-Registrar and currently serving in Ambattur Sub-Registrar Office (SRO), for colluding with some persons and helping them to illegally grab property worth ₹1 crore in Madhavaram using forged documents.

According to the complaint lodged by S. Sadasivam Pillai, 74, the property belongs to his son-in-law, Padmakumar. The property — 2,400 sq. ft of land valued at around ₹1 crore — located at Thanikachalam Nagar in Madhavaram, was fraudulently acquired by obtaining a fake patta and creating forged documents.

Fake registrations

Based on these forged documents, one Edwin Moses, registered a settlement deed in the name of his wife, Angelin, at the Madhavaram Sub-Registrar Office.

Later, using that document, a general power of attorney was registered in favour of one Muthuraja.

After cancelling the previous document, another general power of attorney was registered again in favour of Muthuraja.

Subsequently, Muthuraja executed a mortgage deed in favour of his son, Santhaswaruban. That mortgage was later cancelled, and a sale deed was executed in favour of Santhaswaruban. Hethen gave a general power of attorney to Dinesh.

Following the complaint to the Chennai City Police Commissioner, a case was registered on March 13. The Land Fraud Investigation Wing (LFIW) conducted an investigation. In March and May,accused Muthuraja, Edwin Moses and Anandan, were arrested and remanded.

During interrogation and based on their statements, it was found that seven fake registrations had taken place. It also came to light that Jaffer Sadiq, 44, then Sub-Registrar of Madhavaram, had actively colluded in the illegal transfer of the property, the police said.

Request ignored

Although the complainant had personally submitted a petition in November 2021 to the Sub-Registrar, requesting that no further registrations be carried out as a fake document had already been registered on the property, the Sub-Registrar ignored the request and continued to facilitate fraudulent registrations.

Based on this evidence, the accused sub-registrar, Jaffer Sadiq of Adambakkam, Chennai, was arrested on Monday, produced before court, and was granted bail.