Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath, recently faced an alarming discovery regarding his ancestral property in Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh. It appears that individuals unrelated to his family are attempting to claim ownership of the land.

Upon further investigation, Nath found that his deceased father’s estate was reportedly being claimed based on an unregistered will, a forged death certificate, and other dubious documents.

The local police in Bijnor have filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Najibabad police station. Superintendent of Police K.K. Bishnoi confirmed that two suspects have been apprehended, while a third person remains at large. Authorities are also looking into whether this group has made similar attempts to misappropriate other properties.

The situation unfolded unexpectedly when Nath sought to formally record his inheritance of two hectares of agricultural land in Amikhanpur village on May 18, 2026. This land belonged to his late father, Mahendra Nath. However, a local revenue official informed Nath that another legal claim concerning the property was already under consideration, indicating that the land was in a disputed status. It was during this inquiry that Nath discovered that another party was asserting a claim to the same land.

The FIR states that a man named Dharampal Singh, the son of Ratan Singh, has submitted a “fake, forged, and fabricated unregistered will” related to the property, which is now under review by the Najibabad tehsildar. The alleged forgery extends beyond the will; the FIR mentions a purported death certificate for Mahendra Nath, dated April 10, 2003, supposedly issued from Najibabad, which Nath asserts is false. He maintains that his father actually passed away on September 7, 2004, at Escorts Hospital in New Delhi, and highlights inaccuracies regarding his father’s marital status as noted in the documents.

Nath contends that these forged documents were employed to create a fraudulent claim of ownership over his father’s land. The FIR implicates Dharampal Singh, Jasbinder Singh Dhillon, Vijay Shankar Pandey, and David Kumar, the local lekhpal, among others, in a conspiracy aimed at illegally seizing Nath’s property.

The complaint further alleges that this group devised counterfeit documents, including the will and the death certificate, with the intent of unlawfully registering the land in their names and subsequently selling it.

Nath also claimed that this group has produced forged documents pertaining to various other properties as well.

Superintendent Bishnoi indicated that the case might involve a broader spectrum of Nath’s family estate. He noted that Kamal Nath’s father owned approximately 90 bighas of land, with around 36 bighas reportedly targeted for misappropriation through these forged documents.

According to Bishnoi, the accused allegedly created a false will purportedly executed in 2003 and subsequently generated a fake decree in 2004 in Bijnor. They later initiated a civil lawsuit in 2020, attempting to transfer the land into their names.

In the realm of journalism, Anand Mohan J serves as a Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, where he leads coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With over eight years of experience, he has established himself as a credible reporter on issues intersecting law, internal security, and public policy.

Based in Bhopal, Anand is particularly recognized for his insightful reporting on the Maoist insurgency in Central India. His notable work includes exclusive coverage of the surrender of the last Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, providing a detailed account of the negotiations and circumstances leading to the state’s declaration as Maoist-free.

Anand’s investigative journalism is underscored by a commitment to accountability, delving into critical areas such as national security, legal accountability, wildlife conservation, and public health. His reporting has revealed significant issues, including systemic negligence in public health services and wildlife trafficking.

Since joining The Indian Express in 2017, Anand has transitioned from covering high-pressure beats in Delhi to his current role in Madhya Pradesh, where he continues to engage with pressing issues affecting the region.

For more insights, you can find Anand Mohan J on Twitter at @mohanreports.