Signatures on blank documents?

Many a times in property related transactions property dealer makes you sign on certain blank papers to do deal with prospective buyers of the property they do sweet talks and get your signatures on blank documents to be used at later stages of transaction.

If your property dealer is honest then those documents will be used to honor the deal else will lead to litigation and eventually will land you up in jail also.

Modus operandi-How the documents can be misused

If you are putting signatures on multiple documents then these documents can be used as cash receipt and can be used as agreement to sell of a property which you are intending to sell. Now if one agreement to sell and receipts are there with one person then a civil case of specific performance that is to sell the property at very low rate to intended purchaser or a suit of recovery is maintainable based on receipts in civil court.

Now if two agreement to sell and two receipts are there with two different persons with respect to same property the a criminal case of fraud is made out in such cases.

How to avoid signatures on blank documents

Insist full printed document with no blank spaces.

Take one of your witness for attestation of document.

Do not leave any space between your signatures and printed document.

Have a photocopy of whatever you have signed.

What to do if you issue blank documents to someone

Issue immediately a legal notice to other party who has taken your signatures on blank papers so you have proof.

Issue a public notice in leading newspaper so that any third party may not be able to misuse it.

File a case mandatory injunction for delivery of documents.

Stay safe and be very careful when putting signatures

Nitish Banka

Nitish Banka is an advocate practicing in Supreme Court of India and can be reached at [email protected] or 9891549997