Thane Court Rejects Bail To Man Accused Of ₹8.5 Lakh MHADA Flat Scam

The Thane Sessions Court has rejected the anticipatory bail application of Latif Shantvan Rajguru, who is accused of allegedly cheating a man of ₹8.5 lakh on the promise of providing him a flat in a MHADA project at Mira Road.

The court's decision was made by Additional Sessions Judge B.D. Shelke, who held that there was prima facie material indicating Rajguru's involvement in the alleged economic offence and fabrication of documents. The judge also observed that Rajguru's personal interrogation was necessary to investigate the matter further.

According to the prosecution, Rajguru and two other accused allegedly induced the informant to pay ₹8.5 lakh by promising him a flat in a MHADA project in the Shantinagar area of Mira Road (East). The accused allegedly provided fabricated documents bearing the signatures of various authorities, including an Assistant Commissioner. The promised flat was neither provided nor was the money returned, following which the complainant approached the police.

The FIR in the case was registered with the Nayanagar police station. Seeking anticipatory bail, Rajguru's lawyer argued that he had been implicated because he was a friend of co-accused Abdul Sattar. The defence maintained that Rajguru was not a beneficiary of the amount and had already appeared before the police and cooperated with the investigation.

However, the prosecution opposed the plea, pointing out that ₹2 lakh from the alleged transaction had been credited to Rajguru's account and alleging that he and the other accused had fabricated documents. The prosecution also brought to the court's notice several previous criminal cases registered against him, including cases involving allegations of cheating, forgery and related offences.

The court further noted that Rajguru had shown his criminal antecedents as “nil” in his affidavit, despite the cases being pointed out by the prosecution. This suppression was considered relevant while considering his plea for anticipatory bail.

The court observed that there was prima facie evidence regarding Rajguru's complicity in the serious economic offence and fabricating documents. Considering the nature and gravity of the offence and his past criminal antecedents, the court held that there was a possibility of similar cheating and fabrication of documents.

The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge B.D. Shelke at Thane on August 28, 2026. The rejection of Rajguru's anticipatory bail application is a significant development in the case, which highlights the importance of verifying documents and transactions when dealing with property purchases.

The MHADA project in question is a significant development in the Mira Road area, and the alleged scam has raised concerns about the authenticity of documents and transactions related to the project. The court's decision is expected to send a strong message to those involved in such scams and will help to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The case is a reminder of the importance of due diligence and verification when dealing with property purchases, especially in cases where large sums of money are involved. It also highlights the need for effective law enforcement and judicial action to prevent and punish such scams.

In conclusion, the Thane Sessions Court's rejection of Rajguru's anticipatory bail application is a significant development in the case, and it is expected to have a positive impact on the prevention and punishment of similar scams in the future.