PNS | DEHRADUN
The police busted a gang on charges of forging documents to seize properties of NRIs and other absentee owners in Dehradun and other locations. The gang known as the Sherkhan Gang, operated by targeting vacant houses and plots, creating fake ownership papers and then illegally occupying the properties.
The police arrested four members of the gang, including the notorious Vikas Sundriyal alias Sonu Mooch, Vinod Kumar alias KD, Mukesh Chauhan and Pramod Giri, the Dehrdaun senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh said. He informed that the case came to light on November 21 when Suman Devi, a resident of Kishanpur of Rajpur area filed a complaint at the Rajpur police station. She stated that her friend, Ritu Mehta had entrusted her to oversee a property in Kishanpur. However, members of the Sherkhan Gang forged documents related to the property and attempted to take possession. Singh said that acting on the complaint, the police registered an FIR under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and started the investigation.
He informed that the police conducted a detailed investigation, gathered evidence from the registry office, Revenue department and banks. Based on the findings and inputs from informants, the police apprehended four accused on Friday. They revealed during the interrogation that their gang comprises 10-12 members and specialises in scouting unoccupied properties and preparing fake documents to seize them. Their leader Sherkhan is currently absconding, Singh said. The SSP informed that preliminary investigations have so far revealed that the gang has illegally occupied several properties in the city using similar tactics. Police are working to identify other properties targeted by the gang and are pursuing the remaining members, including Sherkhan, he said.
Singh also stated that all accused have an extensive criminal history in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with multiple cases registered against them. Further investigations into their activities and accomplices are ongoing, he added.
