A major land scam involving over 500 powerloom laborers and working-class families has come to light in the Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh, where real estate developers allegedly defrauded buyers through a deceptive token scheme. For the past 12 to 13 years, these families have been waiting to get the official registration of their plots in three residential developments, namely Ahmednagar 1, Ahmednagar 2, and Super Colony. Despite paying their hard-earned savings in monthly installments, the victims remain without ownership rights and are now preparing for widespread street protests after years of administrative inaction.
Duped of Life Savings and Threatened with Resale
According to the aggrieved buyers, they invested their hard-earned money to secure small pieces of land for their families. However, the colony developers failed to transfer the legal ownership titles after collecting the full payments. Worse, affected residents allege that the developers are now fraudulently selling the exact same land parcels to third parties. This double-selling racket has pushed hundreds of vulnerable families to the brink, prompting them to unite and plan agitations against the property owners.
Over 300 Buyers Affected in Specific Colonies
Lokesh Shah, one of the affected plot buyers, detailed how developers Dr. Sadiq Zaki Hashmi and Yusuf Ali cheated low-income buyers across Ahmednagar 1, Ahmednagar 2, and Super Colony. More than 300 laborers in these three areas alone deposited fixed monthly amounts for years, trusting the developers to hand over valid land registry documents upon completion. Instead, they have been running between government departments for nearly 13 years without any relief. Similar fraudulent practices through token-based land sales have been identified across more than half a dozen residential colonies throughout Burhanpur.
Administration Assures Investigation and Action
Addressing the growing grievance, Tehsildar Praveen Oria confirmed that the matter regarding the disputed colonies has reached the local administration. Official investigations into the developers' operations are being initiated. The official noted that legal action and FIRs were previously registered against more than half a dozen illegal colony developers in the region. If this probe uncovers deliberate fraud by the colony owners, criminal cases will be registered, and steps will be taken to recover the money and return it to the affected buyers.
