Source: Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Beware_your_land_may_be_in_anothers_name/articleshow/3414415.cms)

PANAJI: Cases of falsifying land ownership papers and selling the same land for profit have come to the notice of the authorities. It's happening in Goa and rightful owners remain unaware, sometimes until they find development work being undertaken on their land.

Admitting that there have been cases where papers have been falsified, state registrar cum head of notary services, V G Salkar said, "This is a serious issue and we will be taking immediate steps to curb the problem." Hyginus D'Souza, of Bardez is a victim whose property was sold after a false succession deed was prepared in favour of one Douglas Siqueira by forging documents.

Salkar admits that in cases he has come across, the notary had overlooked facts while preparing the documents where even the photograph and signatures, were forgeries. A notary has to verify the documents and get the identity of the person preparing the documents, especially if he's a Power of Attorney (PoA) holder, verified by another person or a lawyer.

The police reveal that various tricks are adopted to cheat people of their property. The most common is getting a power of attorney prepared in the name of a dead person giving power to another dead person. The PoA is then transferred in the name of a living person.

"Other methods, like forging baptism and marriage certificates to establish lineage to a family which owns a particular property, a fake deed of gift showing that the owner is gifting the property to a friend or relative are also employed," said a police official.

The official added, "Sometimes even court orders are forged to carry out mutations by deleting the original occupant's name and entering another person's name."

Though the police are aware of the modus operandi adopted, they can do little to change the situation. "The police comes into the picture only after an offence has been registered. By that time it is too late and the damage is done," said SP (North) Bosco George.