Trio Arrested for Forging Bank Passbooks

Swift Summary

• Police arrested three individuals-Saiboyina Upendra, Epuri Vara Prasad, and Dudekula Mohammad Rafi-accused of preparing fake land passbooks in Sanjamala mandal.
• seized items included 12 fake passbooks and five title deeds allegedly used to secure bank loans.
• In 2023, a case was filed against the creation of fake documents by Tahsildar G.V. Mallikarjuna Rao at the Sanjamala police station.
• Inquiry revealed Basheer Ahmad (computer operator) and Upendra fabricated non-existent survey numbers for lands across Perusomula, Giddalur, R. Lingadinne, and Mudigedu areas.
• Fake documents were issued to 67 individuals claiming ownership of non-existent land spanning 321.83 acres; passbooks were reportedly sold for ₹30,000 each.
• Around ₹80 lakh was obtained in loans by some beneficiaries using thes forged records; failure to repay will lead to legal action against them as per police warning.
• The investigation highlighted involvement of other suspects from neighboring areas including Gadivemula and Kurnool Town. Approval for fraudulent entries was linked to former Mandal Revenue officer (MRO) Eddula Elizabeth in 2018.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The case underscores critical vulnerabilities within administrative systems dealing with land documentation in India. The involvement of key personnel such as computer operators and previous MROs highlights how internal breaches can have far-reaching consequences on both governance credibility and financial institutions relying on such records.

For India’s rural economy-where land-related schemes frequently enough integrate with credit facilities-stringent verification processes are essential at every level of record creation and approval. This incident also reflects potential risks for innocent citizens unknowingly caught up in fraudulent activities due to negligent oversight or manipulative intermediaries.

While authorities have acted swiftly here by recovering part of the forged materials and initiating arrests, ensuring accountability through clear follow-up measures is crucial not only for justice but also as a deterrent against systemic misuse elsewhere.Read more: Published – July 21, 2025