Land Scam by farmer, 20 years old case
3 months ago
My father did an agreement with a farmer in 2003 for a 10 acre land @ 3 lakhs rupees per acre (total 30 lakhs). The farmer said there are cases of family dispute in court (for which he showed documents) and therefore he will register the land as soon as the court decides on the disputes. My father agreed, did the agreement and paid him 40% amount over the period of time. He regularly checked with farmer about the updates, to which farmer used to update that the case is still ongoing.
And now in 2024, we came to know that the land was already sold in 2018 without our knowledge by the farmer and his family. The farmer when confronted said that he did it under pressure from his family and other stupid reasons. We have the agreement and the signed proofs of payment that the farmer received from my father.
Now my question is can we do something about this issue because of the timeline? The following are the remedies that we want, please suggest what can be done in this regard.
1. File a FIR for the fraud that farmer and his family did with us
2. File a court case for the cancellation of registry as our agreement was already in place with farmer for the same piece of land.
3. Refund is not the option as it will be pennies as compared to the current market price of the land.
Please let us know what we can do to get the land.
You may consider filing an FIR for fraud, as it appears that the farmer and his family misrepresented the situation and sold the land without your knowledge, which could constitute a criminal offense. Additionally, you could file a civil suit seeking the cancellation of the registry based on your existing agreement and the payments made. Section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908, and Section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, may be relevant in asserting your rights regarding the agreement. Consult with a legal professional to discuss the specifics of your case and determine the most appropriate course of action. Keep all relevant documents such as the agreement, payment proofs, and any correspondence with the farmer as evidence to support your case.
Thankyou
It is clearly a case of fraud. You can initiate all the proceedings that you have mentioned.
This amounts to criminal cases and as well as a civil suit.
As you have all the documents and evidences you have a higher chance of getting the judgement in your favor. Consult an advocate immediately before the cause of action disposes.
Thanks