‘Dead man’ walks into court to sell his land

Times of India: Indore: Thursday, 24 September 2015.

In what can be termed as 'dead man walking', a man, who died one-and-half-years ago, appeared in SDM court to submit an affidavit and sign on papers to transfer around 78,000 square feet of prime land, worth several crores of rupees to some other persons.

Bishwa Bihari Awasthi died on February 09, 2011 but as per the land transfer record (a copy is with TOI) mentioned that he appeared before SDM court in Indore district collector's office on July 2, 2012, in person and gave in writing to transfer his land to some Nagendra Singh and Virendra Singh and even put his signature on the documents.

The irregularity was exposed through an RTI query filed by Rajendra K Gupta. Now, divisional commissioner Sanjay Dubey has initiated a probe into the matter.

"It can happen only in India where living people had to fight in court to prove that they are alive and even dead people can appear to transfer their valuable land," said Gupta alleging that all this was a handiwork of land mafia in connivance of revenue officials.

According to documents received through RTI, Nagendra Singh and Virendra Singh, both residents of Patnipura areas of the city had filed an application before revenue officials for transfer of around 78,000 square feet of prime land on Kesarbagh Road near RTO office in their name. The said land was in the name of Bishwa Bihari Awasthi and his family.

Gupta, who had filed RTI, said Awasthi died in February 2011 at Super Specialty centre and IMC had issued a death certificate (no. 31102283) on March 10, 2011. "How can then he appear for transfer of land and put his signature on documents," he questioned.