Bhopal man who ran Faith Cricket Academy arrested in fraud case involving ex-DGP

olice arrested the owner of Faith Cricket Academy, identified as 44-year-old Raghavendra Singh Tomar, late Thursday night in connection with a four-year-old fraud case that allegedly targeted retired Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police H.M. Joshi, officials said. The arrest comes after a local probe found a forged agreement used to remove Joshi from a partnership over land earmarked for a cricket academy.

Arrest and charges
According to Sanjeev Chouksey, station in-charge at Habibganj police station, Tomar was taken into custody from his residence in Bhopal. He faces charges under sections related to cheating and forgery after an FIR was registered several years ago following a complaint by Joshi.

“Initial reports indicate Tomar prepared a fake agreement and used forged signatures to deprive Joshi of his share in the partnership firm,” Chouksey said. “The matter pertains to land in Semri village, under Ratibad police limits, where the academy was to be set up.”

How the deal unfolded
Sources familiar with the matter said the original deal was struck in 2017, when Joshi — who lives in E-5 Arera Colony — entered a partnership with the Faith Group for development of a cricket facility on his land in Gram Semri. The partnership company was registered as Messrs Faith Cricket Club and the parties began work on planning the academy.

Two years into the arrangement, investigators say, Tomar allegedly produced a document purporting to remove Joshi from the firm. The agreement, police contend, bore what turned out to be forged signatures and was used to transfer rights away from the former DGP.

Police action and evidence
After Joshi lodged a complaint, the case was examined by local investigators and an FIR was registered. Police said handwriting and signature analysis, along with documentary scrutiny carried out during the probe, raised doubts about the validity of the agreement; those findings formed the basis for the recent arrest.

Chouksey added that investigators recovered several documents from Tomar’s office during searches, which are being examined for links to the alleged fraud. “We are gathering more documentary evidence and questioning witnesses,” he said. “Further charges may follow depending on what the probe turns up.”

Local reactions
Neighbours in Semri and residents of Ratibad who spoke to reporters on Friday said the dispute has stalled work at the cricket ground and unsettled local plans for a sports facility. “We were hopeful the academy would bring training opportunities for youth,” said one resident. “But the legal fight has kept everything on hold.”

The former DGP, according to sources, has cooperated with the police inquiry. Officials declined to share details of any financial recovery efforts or the current status of the land, saying the property title and transfer records are part of an ongoing legal review.

Legal timeline and next steps
The case dates back roughly four years, with the FIR filed after Joshi noticed what he believed were irregularities in the firm’s paperwork. Following the filing, investigators conducted documentary checks and a probe was opened. Tomar’s arrest on Thursday night — nearly a year after the case came into sharper focus locally — reflects renewed investigative activity, officials said.

Tomar will be produced before a magistrate on Friday and police expect to seek his custodial remand to question him further. Meanwhile, investigators plan to obtain more forensic reports and may call additional witnesses linked to the 2017 deal.

Why it matters
The case has attracted attention partly because it involves a retired top police official and partly because it highlights recurring problems in local land and partnership disputes, legal experts said. Fraud involving forged agreements can complicate title clearances and stall development projects, affecting local communities and investors.

What to watch
Authorities said they will update the public once the magistrate hearing concludes and as forensic findings are finalized. For the neighbourhood in Semri, the key question remains whether the stalled cricket academy will now resume development or remain tied up in litigation for a longer period.