A Special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the alleged tampering with online property records of the the Lucknow Development Authority.
The SIT will comprise LDA officials and cyber crime experts of Lucknow police.
LDA officials claim that around 50 cases have come to the fore in which information related to a particular property was changed in the online records. Since there are apprehensions that the number could be much more, the SIT under LDA joint secretary Ritu Suhas has been constituted.
On LDA’s request, Lucknow police has nominated assistant commissioner of police, cyber cell, Vivek Ranjan to help in the probe. Ranjan will be assisted by five more members of the cell.
LDA system executive SB Bhatnagar said, “LDA maintains online records of every property transaction to ensure transparency. Buyers are allotted unique ID with a password to keep a tab. In October, we received a complaint from one of the buyers that his property shows the name of another person as owner. A probe was ordered when more such complaints were received. So far, we have come across 50 cases in which property records have been changed like name of the owner, address, cost, date of purchase and unique ID.”
These properties included 34 housing units (24 underconstruction), 10 commercial and six plots located in Gomtinagar, Kanpur Road and Sarojininagar areas. Their total cost is around Rs 30 crore. An FIR was lodged with the Gomtinagar police station on November 8.
Only clerks and computer operators working in the cell have access to all unique IDs. “Though there is a possibility of an insider hand in the scam, we can also not rule out hacking, hence help of the police’s cyber cell was sought.” Bhatnagar added.