Lucknow: Police on Saturday arrested two key accused 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, each carrying a Rs 50,000 reward, 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 were being produced before the court. The case originated from a complaint by Gayatri Devi of Unnao, who alleged that 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. ADCP (South Zone) Vasant Kumar Rallapalli said police investigations 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, was allegedly involved in fabricating identity documents and signatures used in the fake deal. After the fraud surfaced, he allegedly threatened the victim to force a settlement and stall legal proceedings. Explaining the modus operandi, the ADCP said the accused, along with their associates, lured the victim into a property deal by 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 handing over possession and eventually cut off communication.
