Scams Near Jewar Airport: Noida’s Khosla Ka Ghosla

The Noida International Airport is nearing completion and has become a topic of discussion among businesses and travellers alike. Ever since this project was announced and initiated, the prices of property around it have surged. People have benefited a lot, and investors are buying for future business prospects. Though right now, it is also the centre of many property frauds. This catalyst of growth has also become a breeding ground for fraudulent activities.

This opportunity is being exploited by shell companies and fake agents for forged land deals that have deceived unsuspecting buyers across the Delhi-NCR region and beyond.

This frenzy began with the hope of transformation. Given the strategic location, distance from the capital, and even government plans and preferences of the region, these fraudsters promise people a better future. When the initiation of the airport was announced, land and property prices soared overnight. Farmers became the tool to use for these opportunists. Fake companies were floated, fake Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) approvals were created, and some even acquired land from farmers. These pieces of land were sold multiple times using doctored paperwork and fake maps.

The Tappal-Bajna block in Aligarh district is the biggest hotspot for this specific crime. Tappal Bajna is not just close to the Jewar airport; it comes with tons of attractions, such as proximity to the capital, closeness to the Delhi-Mumbai expressway, and this city was also designed as a Multimodal Logistics Park (MMLP). Given these perks, people were easily roped into these crimes. This area came under the YEIDA's jurisdiction in 2022 as well. Interested buyers from the Delhi-Lucknow region faced these crimes firsthand.

Most Common Scams That Are Presently There

Sale of unapproved plots: This is the most common and prevailing scam; fraudsters sell plots in areas that are not for residential or commercial development. They do not have any RERA registration or YEIDA approval.

Forging documents and Fake maps: Scammers use forged ownership documents, fake power of attorney papers, and fabricated maps to make these pieces of land seem legitimate.

Multiple sales of the same land: A single piece of land is fraudulently sold to multiple unsuspecting buyers.

Deceiving farmers: Scammers have duped both buyers and farmers, sometimes forging signatures on sales deeds to acquire more land.

The YEIDA authority has issued notices to nearly 400 dealership companies that are suspected of having a hand in fraud.

The numbers have their own story to tell. Rs 60.89 crore land racket was unearthed by the Aligarh Police, where the "dealers" were representatives of JSM Pro Infratech Pvt Ltd. These digits are far smaller compared to what YEIDA has uncovered. The authority has conducted more than 25 anti-encroachment operations over the past three years. They have reclaimed land valued at nearly Rs 2,500 crore from illegal possession. This land was duped of its original owners and the buyers.

YEIDA is not turning heads away from this, a senior official stressed for public awareness, telling the Economic Times, "People are lured by the dream of owning property near the airport. But they must remember, if it is not allotted or approved by YEIDA, it is illegal, no matter how real it looks on the ground."

Advisory for Future Buyers

Land sale is not going to cease entirely just because certain people pose a threat; people are still selling and buying in these regions.

Prateek Jha, Advocate, Supreme Court of India, says, "This is happening because of the desperation of the buyer. The law says "Caveat Emptor." This means the buyer shall be vigilant while purchasing anything. The desperation is because advertisers and brokers have induced in such a way that they believe no choice can be better than investing at 'this' moment in 'that' property."

This is not just the responsibility of the authorities when things go sideways, Jha advises, "Innocent buyer shall keep all the relevant chat/email/inducing posters. No money shall be paid to any person other than the seller, and the payment is to be made online so that the receipt of each and every payment is available." This is to make sure that the procedure further becomes easier and smoother for the authorities, as well as those who were duped.