A Bengaluru court has sentenced a 52-year-old man to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in a long-running fraud case involving fake promises of Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) site allotments worth more than ₹1.14 crore. The case, which remained under trial for nearly 15 years, ended with the court strongly condemning the offence and describing it as a white-collar crime that harms both citizens and the wider economy. The judgement is being seen as a significant message against organised property frauds.
On April 25, the 47th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court, presided over by Satish J Bali, convicted John Michael, a resident of Bhatrahalli. According to the prosecution, Michael falsely posed as the personal secretary to former Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh and used that claim to gain the trust of victims. He allegedly promised them BDA site allotments in exchange for money, despite having no authority to do so.
The court found him guilty under provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to cheating by impersonation, forgery, and the use of forged documents. Investigators said multiple individuals were deceived into paying large sums based on fabricated assurances of government-linked land allotments. The fraudulent scheme reportedly collected more than ₹1.14 crore from victims who believed they were securing legitimate residential sites through official influence.
Also Read: Maharashtra Gives Autorickshaw, Taxi Drivers Until August 15 to Learn Marathi
Along with the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of ₹1.15 crore on the convict. It also directed that compensation be paid to victims from the fine amount, with individual payouts ranging from ₹3 lakh to ₹26.5 lakh depending on losses suffered. Such compensation orders are often considered important in fraud cases, as they provide partial financial relief to those who were misled and suffered monetary damage.
The trial lasted close to 15 years, during which the prosecution examined 29 witnesses before securing conviction. The lengthy proceedings underline the complexity often involved in financial fraud and document-based criminal cases. The ruling serves as a warning against impersonation scams and fraudulent property promises, particularly in rapidly growing cities like Bengaluru, where demand for land and housing remains high.
Also Read: Ganga Expressway: 594-km Corridor Reduces Travel Time from 12 Hours to 6