LUCKNOW: A joint team of PGI and Mohanlalganj police, along with the surveillance unit, on Saturday arrested two key accused — each carrying a Rs 50,000 reward — in a Rs 74 lakh property fraud case linked to Vrindavan Yojana, exposing a well-organised racket involving forged documents, financial manipulation and intimidation.The arrested accused have been identified as Sunil Kumar Shukla (46) and Vipin Kumar Shukla (36), both residents of Patel Nagar, Nilmatha under Sushant Golf City police station limits. They were nabbed on June 6 from a service lane near Kisan Path on Rae Bareli Road following a tip-off. Police said they are being produced before court.The case originated from a complaint by Gayatri Devi of Unnao, who alleged she was duped of Rs 73.99 lakh by a syndicate that promised to sell her a house in Vrindavan Yojana using forged documents and false assurances. An FIR was lodged at PGI police station and probe is being conducted. Additional DCP, South Zone, Vasant Kumar Rallapalli, said that police investigations have identified Sunil Shukla as the mastermind, who planned and executed the fraud by targeting the victim, orchestrating the preparation of forged property papers and managing the proceeds. He allegedly attempted to portray the criminal act as a civil dispute through misleading tactics to dilute police action.Vipin Shukla, on the other hand, acted as a key forger and enforcer. He was involved in fabricating identity documents and signatures used in the fake deal. After the fraud surfaced, he allegedly issued threats to the victim to force a settlement and stall legal proceedings.ADCP while explaining the modus, said that the accused, along with other associates, lured the victim into a property deal, backing their claims with fabricated documents to establish legitimacy. Trusting the paperwork, the victim transferred nearly Rs 74 lakh. Once the money was secured, the accused delayed possession and eventually cut off communication.When the victim pursued the matter, the gang allegedly tried to pass off the fraud as a business dispute while resorting to intimidation. Police say the syndicate included multiple operatives handling funds, logistics and coercion, pointing to a structured criminal network.
