MANKAPUR Police, on Thursday, booked five persons, including a married couple, for allegedly duping a middle-aged man of Rs 18 lakh on the pretext of selling a plot in Jai Bharat Co-operative Housing Society, Godhni.

The accused have been identified as Deepak Marotrao Nagraj (50), his wife Pushpa Nagraj (42), both residents of Quarter No 121,CPWD Colony, Katol Road, Pranav Bansod, a resident of Dakshinamurti Chowk, Mahal, Swapnil Lakkewar, a resident of Plot No 302, Zingabai Takli, and Amol Kawduji Danav (32), a resident of Plot No 3, Murlidhar Society, Godhni.

A resident of Katol Road, Parmanand Baliram Tiwari (52) lodged a complaint with the police that the accused took Rs 18 lakh from him on the pretext of selling plot No 42, Jai Bharat Cooperative Housing Societ Mouza Godhi, PHN 12, Khasra 260 (New Layout 144/4) between May 17, 2021 and March 26, 2022. The original owner of the said plot had initiated legal proceedings against the housing society. The court then had given possession of the plot to its real owner. However, the accused kept Tiwari in dark about the court case and attempted to sell off the plot after taking Rs 18 lakh from him.

On the basis of Tiwari’s complaint, police registered a case under Sections 420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code against the accused persons. Further investigations are underway.