Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady
Beltangady, Aug 21: A case has been registered at the Beltangady police station after a man was allegedly cheated of Rs 1,00,61,250 on the pretext of registering land in his name in Guruvayanakere, Beltangady taluk.
Police registered the case based on a complaint filed by Shashidhar Achyutha Totantila (61), a resident of Kottara Chowki, Mangaluru. The complainant has alleged that Somanath Naik and Ranjan Rao Erdoor, residents of Sasyodyana in Kuvettu village of Beltangady taluk, were involved in the alleged fraud.
The complainant had entered into an agreement with Ranjan Rao concerning 0.28.50 acres of land in Survey No. 85/3A1 of Kuvettu village. Subsequently, accused Somanath Naik allegedly stated that he would execute the sale deed and hand over possession of a total of 0.98.75 acres of land in the complainant's name, comprising 0.70.25 acres allegedly belonging to Ranjan Rao and 0.28.50 acres belonging to him. An agreement was entered into for a total amount of Rs 90,00,000.
As per the agreement, complainant Shashidhar transferred money in several instalments to various bank accounts specified by the accused. A total of Rs 1,00,61,250 was deposited into Canara Bank and Union Bank accounts belonging to accused Ranjan Rao, Somanath Naik, his wife Vidya Naik, Dayanand Poojary, Babu A, Sandeep, Harish and Somashekar.
Even after receiving the money, the accused allegedly failed to register the land. When the complainant questioned them, it came to light that the land was 'Kummi' land and had allegedly been encroached upon illegally. A case regarding the land has been registered before the Karnataka Land Tribunal and is under investigation.
It was also found that, in an attempt to escape from the issue, another agricultural property was allegedly documented and handed over on May 14, 2026, thereby cheating the complainant.
The complainant has alleged that government land was also included in the alleged fraud. In connection with the complaint, Beltangady police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, as Crime No. 91/2026 and have taken up further investigation.