Retired Army Captain held in Hyderabad for grabbing idle lands using fake documents

Hyderabad: Karkhana Police have arrested a retired Army Captain for allegedly operating as a serial land grabber and scammer across multiple States.

From Army officer to land mafia

Police revealed that after retiring from the Indian Army, the accused, DK Giri, set up private detective offices in Secunderabad and Karnataka. He later got involved in land grabbing, cheating, forgery, criminal trespass and intimidation.

In the current case, Giri, along with his associate Ashok Ramchand Sadnani, targeted the property of a former Army colleague. Taking advantage of the complainant’s absence, they forged ownership documents and obtained a fraudulent court decree to claim the land.

Accused would target unattended or under-maintained properties

Investigations showed that the accused would identify unattended or under-maintained properties, create forged ownership documents and file civil suits to fraudulently establish his claim. Genuine owners, harassed by prolonged litigation, often ended up settling to avoid further trouble.

Previous offences across States

This is not the first instance of such fraud by Giri.

In Karnataka, he filed a false civil suit against a woman named Kanthamma, which the court dismissed, imposing a Rs 25,000 fine on him for the fraudulent claim. His criminal history includes:

Delhi Crime Branch (2016): Cheating, impersonation and criminal breach of trust

Shamirpet PS (2013): Criminal trespass, theft, house break-in and intimidation

Karkhana PS (2025): Multiple cases under BNS sections for fraud, intimidation and forgery

Relief for residents

Residents of Gunrock Enclave in Secunderabad had been living under constant fear due to his threats. His arrest has brought relief and restored public confidence in law enforcement.

Public advisory

The Hyderabad City Police have advised citizens to remain vigilant about their properties, especially if unattended or away from their primary residence. They urged people to:

- Verify property records regularly

- Report any suspicious activity or unauthorised occupation immediately

- Avoid sharing sensitive property details

- Consult legal experts before entering into land agreements