PUDUCHERRY: Several complaints of real estate frauds have surfaced in the Union Territory recently.

The territory has a long history of property-related frauds and, now, with the huge demand for plots, a section of real estate dealers are adopting newer methods to cheat the buyers.

The latest scam to surface was in Muthirapalayam where the same plots were sold to different people, leaving them to fight it out for possession.

Last week, an aggrieved woman filed a complaint with the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) seeking protection as another claimant for the same plot threatened her to vacate the land, for which she has the title deed.

Police directive

However, the police refused to entertain the case. The SSP, Chhaya Sharma, said in December last the Police department had taken a decision not to entertain civil cases related to property dispute. A note issued to all police regions and circles in December last year said: "they should not get involved in these issues, unless they suspect a criminal offence has been committed, including trespass or hurt as a result of a property dispute."

She said, on an average, they receive about 15 to 20 complaints a month.

In the latest cheating incident, those who were cheated include engineers and doctors; the plot owner sold seven plots, which were not demarcated at the time of selling, to different people by including the poramboke area. Interestingly, the layout was not approved by the Town and Country Planning Department at the time of sale.

The incident is not an isolated one as several plots are being sold without proper layout and the approval of the department.

"It is high time that the authorities streamline the real estate business. Licensing the business after verifying the antecedents of the dealer should be made compulsory. Many history-sheeters have entered the business recently and they get protection," said one of the oldest real estate dealers in town.

Experienced hands in the business and Revenue department suggest several steps to be followed by the public while buying plots.

Precautions

They include getting the original patta copy of the land to be purchased from the office of Tahsildar after paying Rs. 20 and insisting on the field measurement book (FMB) copy of the survey number of the land. If the land was already purchased, buyers should enclose the sale deed copy and apply for the FMB from the Directorate of Survey and Land Records by payment of Rs. 20.

In the schedule of property, the plot number should be indicated and the layout copy signed by the seller should be made part of the registered sale deed.

Buyers should physically check the land and compare it with the total area mentioned in the FMB copy and verify whether the plot was spread over the neighbouring survey number. One can also measure the land and build the boundary wall in the presence of the neighbour, says a senior revenue department official.

Also, before buying the land, check whether the seller is in possession of the original sale deed registered as sole owner and not just having the authorisation to sell the property.

They said if the guidelines are followed the chances of getting cheated were remote.

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