BJP leader held for selling land to police using forged documents in UP

A case was registered against a local BJP leader for allegedly selling a plot to the police for the construction of police lines for ₹2 crores with the help of forged documents, while he had already taken a loan of ₹78 crores on it.

Superintendent of Police Elamaran G said on Monday that BJP leader Omprakash alias Prakash Mishra has committed forgery and a case has been registered against him. The SP also said that the accused had taken a loan from Bank of India by mortgaging his land. However, despite forged documents, he sold the land for the construction of Police Lines, he said.

The said land is situated in village Chauhanpur under Sadar tehsil (in Gauriganj). On July 27, 2017, Mr Mishra signed a purchase agreement for a plot of land measuring 0.253 m2. Before selling the land, he took a loan of ₹78 crores from the bank by mortgaging the land.

After executing the sale deed, the BJP leader received a payment of ₹1.97 crores from the Amethi police. During the registry, Prakash did not provide any information about whether there was any loan or outstanding dues against him.

On January 3, 2023, a recovery notice was sent by the Debt Recovery Tribunal, Allahabad, after which the matter came to light. On March 24, a case was registered against Mr Mishra based on a complaint filed by the Reserve Inspector at Amethi Police Lines.

The case is registered under sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 419 (impersonation fraud), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of security, will, etc.), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and 471 (as a genuine forged document or electronic record) of the Indian Penal Code.

When contacted, Amethi district BJP chief Durgesh Tripathi said that Mishra is a party worker and a criminal complaint has been registered against him. Mr Tripathi said the law would take its own course and if found guilty, proceedings would be initiated against Mishra.