Raising Public Awareness on Land Scams and Property Frauds in Nagaland

Land is not just property; it is someone’s life savings, a legacy, a future for their family. But in Nagaland today, land scams and property frauds have become so rampant that we must confront a painful question- why is our system allowing this to happen?

We hear these stories far too often, honest citizens buying land in good faith, only to later discover that the seller was unauthorised, the documents were forged, or worse, the same plot was sold to multiple buyers. Shockingly, these so-called “dealers” continue to draft and notarise sale deeds with impunity, despite having no legal authority to represent the landowner. This is a serious offence under Section 468 IPC (forgery for the purpose of cheating, punishable with up to 7 years of imprisonment and a fine), and Section 471 IPC (using forged documents as genuine, which attracts the same punishment as forgery).

Yet the most disturbing part is not just the crime itself, but the complete silence of the system. The fraudsters walk free. The victims, who poured in their life savings are left to suffer, trapped in legal and financial chaos. Why does this continue? Simply put, because our system is weak, unaccountable, and disturbingly tolerant of these crimes. Police action in most cases remains non-existent. Filing an FIR feels like a formality with no follow-up, no investigation, no justice. Meanwhile, legal proceedings drag on for years, draining the strength, finances, and hope of those seeking justice. There are no strict or time-bound punishments to serve as a deterrent.

Even more worrying is the role of landowners. Many do not handle transactions directly. Instead, they appoint brokers or “agents,” often without proper documentation or due diligence. These brokers with no legal mandate sell land illegally, forge papers, and collect huge sums from unsuspecting buyers using the landowner’s name. Such brokers can be held liable under Section 409 IPC, which deals with criminal breach of trust by agents punishable with up to 10 years of imprisonment or even life imprisonment, along with a fine.

And when fraud surfaces, the landowner simply claims ignorance, while the entire burden falls on the buyer who acted in good faith. Is this justice? It appears landowners have carved out a loophole to escape scrutiny. By hiring middlemen, they position themselves to deny all involvement if things go wrong. Whether they profit from it or not, the fact remains that they behave as though they are entitled to walk away untouched, without facing accountability or legal consequences. However, this is not only unethical, it can also be criminal under the Indian Penal Code. When a landowner entrusts an agent who commits fraud, they can be held accountable under Section 409 IPC (criminal breach of trust), Section 120B IPC (criminal conspiracy), Section 107 IPC (abetment), and Section 34 IPC (common intention). These provisions ensure that entrustment is not a shield from justice. If a landowner directly or indirectly authorizes someone to act on their behalf, whether formally or informally, and that person commits fraud, the landowner is not automatically absolved. They can be prosecuted under IPC Sections 409, 120B, 107, and 34. Entrusting someone to act in one's name carries legal responsibility, and landowners who enable such frauds, knowingly or negligently, can and must be held accountable under criminal law.

There are countless instances of illegal land sales, forged documents, and criminal breaches of trust, yet not a single arrest is made in many of these cases. Forgery of property-related sale deeds falls under Section 467 of the Indian Penal Code, one of the gravest forgery offences, punishable with imprisonment for life, or up to 10 years with a fine.

Despite this, there is a glaring lack of accountability. Public warnings against known fraudsters are rare, and justice is often delayed or denied. Is the law asleep? Or are we waiting for more families to lose everything before we act?

The silence of right-thinking citizens only fuels the confidence of fraudsters. We need awareness, yes but more than that, we need public outrage.

Land fraud is not just a personal misfortune. It is a systemic failure, and unless we speak up and demand changes, it will continue.

We need stringent action:

●          Land scams must be treated as serious criminal offences, with swift, non-bailable punishments.

●          Landowners who appoint brokers without proper legal authorization and due diligence must also be held accountable for enabling fraud and irregular transactions.

●          Fast-track courts must be set up to resolve land fraud cases within a fixed timeframe.

●          Repeat offenders must be publicly listed so they cannot continue defrauding others in silence.

In addition to these reforms, we must strictly implement the harshest punishments provided under Indian law, so that criminals like these cannot continue destroying lives and walk freely among us without fear, guilt, or remorse. It’s time to name them, shame them, and demand accountability and justice. Let us raise our voices not just for ourselves, but for every citizen who deserves protection under the law. Let us demand that our police, legal institutions, and government stop turning a blind eye and take real, immediate action.

Benrilo Shitiri