EOW books Hilltop Society office-bearers in multi-crore plot fraud case

Bhopal: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Friday registered a fraud case against office-bearers of Hilltop Housing Cooperative Society, Bhopal, for allegedly collecting crores of rupees from hundreds of members over the past four decades without handing over possession of the plots promised to them.The case was registered following an inquiry into complaints filed by several society members, including Narendra Nathani. The EOW found prima facie evidence that the society collected the full cost of plots as well as additional development charges from members but failed to provide possession for years.Investigators alleged that while sale deeds were executed in members’ names, the society retained the original documents and provided only photocopies to allottees.

This allegedly enabled manipulation of records and plot allotments.The FIR names former society president Satyendra Agrawal, current president Anita Singh, and other office-bearers under sections related to cheating, forgery, use of forged documents, and criminal conspiracy.According to the EOW, the society was formed in 1986 by officials associated with the revenue department and enrolled around 200 to 250 members.

It allegedly collected between Rs 3 crore and Rs 4 crore for the purchase and development of land in Kotra Sultanabad, Barkhedi Khurd, Bawadiya Kalan, and Prempura.The investigation found that despite collecting repeated development charges and executing sale deeds, many members never received possession of their plots. For years, they were reportedly told that the land was involved in litigation.The probe also uncovered irregularities in allotment records, including cases where plots registered in one member’s name were later shown as allotted to others.

In several instances, members were allegedly asked to pay development charges far exceeding the original cost of the plots.Further, the EOW found that a portion of the land allotted to members had been acquired by the MP Housing Board in 2003. Despite this, the society allegedly continued collecting money from members for those plots. Audit reports and verification of registration records reportedly revealed extensive tampering with membership and allotment lists.The agency said many of the affected members are senior citizens and retired government employees. Further investigation is underway.