Builder couple and son accused after land status comes to light
Agra: Police have registered a case after a doctor couple alleged they were defrauded of approximately ₹78 lakh in two land transactions carried out in 2015, according to a complaint lodged in the city. The accused are identified as Jitendra Kumar Mangla, his wife Rekha Mangla, and their son Nikhil Mangla, residents of Lawyers Colony.
The complainant, identified in local reports as Dr Anil Mittal, a resident of Kamla Nagar, said he and his wife purchased two adjoining plots from the Manglas in February 2015. A registered sale deed dated 4 February 2015 records a 178.50-square-metre plot bought for ₹16.45 lakh, and another deed dated 13 February 2015 shows a similarly sized plot registered in the name of Dr Mittal’s wife, Sarita Mittal, for ₹16.45 lakh.
According to the complaint, the couple paid a combined ₹32.90 lakh for the two plots, and spent about ₹2.50 lakh on stamp duty and allied charges. The complaint further alleges that the sellers were associated with Prerna Construction Private Limited, and that no-objection certificates were issued for both plots in 2017.
"When he reached the site in July 2021 to begin construction, he allegedly found agricultural activity instead of developed plots,"
The true status of the land, the complaint says, emerged only when the doctor couple attempted to start construction in July 2021 and discovered active agricultural use on the site. Local inquiries reportedly suggested the land was agricultural and not linked to Prerna Construction, prompting the complainants to question the legitimacy of the earlier registrations.
Settlement talks and the disputed ₹78 lakh figure
The complaint alleges that documents for the plots were prepared by Jitendra and Rekha Mangla despite the sellers not being lawful owners of the land in question. A complaint was registered in August 2021, the records show, and subsequent discussions were held over repayment and a possible settlement.
Local reporting indicates that negotiations later led to an alleged settlement figure of ₹78 lakh. The complaint and accompanying records provided to police form the basis of the FIR in the matter. Police are understood to be examining the documents, sale deeds and related records cited in the complaint.
| Date | Transaction / Event | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Feb 2015 | Registered sale deed — plot 1 (178.50 sq m) | ₹16.45 lakh |
| 13 Feb 2015 | Registered sale deed — plot 2 (178.50 sq m) in name of Sarita Mittal | ₹16.45 lakh |
| 2015 (total) | Purchase price for both plots | ₹32.90 lakh |
| 2015 (ancillary) | Stamp duty and other charges (reported) | ₹2.50 lakh |
| 2021 | Alleged settlement figure mentioned in complaint | ₹78 lakh |
Police sources say the FIR names the three members of the Mangla family and that inquiries will include verification of land records, the chain of title, no-objection certificates and the role, if any, of the company mentioned in the complaint. The case highlights recurrent disputes in Agra and elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh where purchasers later discover agriculture classification or contested ownership after buying plots.
- Two registered sale deeds dated February 2015 for identical-sized plots are central to the complaint.
- The disputed status of the land was noticed in July 2021 when the complainants sought to begin construction.
- Police will verify documents, bank records and official land classification to establish the facts.
The complaint and subsequent FIR are expected to have implications for property buyers in Agra, who may seek closer scrutiny of developer credentials and land classification before purchase. Officials have not released further statements; investigations are continuing and police will take action as per evidence recovered during verification.
Reported from Agra.
