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Authorities have assured that the matter will be investigated thoroughly and that appropriate legal action will be taken based on the findings
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The case once again underscores the need for stronger safeguards and faster grievance redressal mechanisms to protect NRI-owned properties from unlawful occupation and coercion
Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
A case highlighting the growing vulnerability of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to property disputes in India has emerged from Chakeri in Kanpur, where an overseas Indian has accused a local lawyer of illegally occupying his land and demanding a hefty sum to vacate it.
The complainant, Mohammad Afroz Rafi, has been living in Azerbaijan for nearly two decades. Originally from Meerut, Rafi had invested his savings in a residential plot located in Ayodhya Vihar Phase II, Chakeri, several years ago. The land reportedly remained vacant for a long period, as Rafi continued to live abroad and visited India only occasionally.
According to Rafi’s complaint, he discovered around two months ago that his property had been taken over without his consent. He alleged that advocate Dinesh Arya, a resident of Sadanand Nagar, had encroached upon the plot, erected a small structure, and even placed a tenant on the land. When Rafi objected to the occupation and sought restoration of his property, he claims the accused demanded ₹25 lakh in exchange for vacating the land and handing it back.
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Disturbed by the alleged extortion demand, Rafi initially approached the Chakeri police station to lodge a complaint
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However, he stated that no immediate action was taken, despite repeated follow-ups
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Facing what he described as administrative delays, the NRI escalated the matter by submitting a formal complaint to the Kanpur Police Commissioner, Raghubir Lal
Following the Commissioner’s intervention, Chakeri police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the accused. Confirming the development, the station in-charge said that the case has been formally recorded and an investigation is underway to examine allegations of illegal possession, construction, and extortion.
In an effort to draw attention to his plight, Rafi also posted a video appeal on social media, urging senior police officials to intervene and help him reclaim his land. The video gained traction online, prompting wider public discussion about land grabbing cases involving NRIs and the challenges they face in safeguarding properties from afar.
