Panvel Police Arrest Five In ₹2.29-Crore Land Fraud Case

The Panvel City Police have arrested five individuals in connection with a ₹2.29-crore land fraud case. The accused allegedly forged documents to show two deceased landowners as alive and sold their 47-guntha plot at Karanjade for ₹2.29 crore.

The case pertains to Survey No. 81/2 at Karanjade, which was owned by Nathan Eliyahu Chincholkar and Shalom Eliyahu Chincholkar, both of whom had passed away. The prime accused, Suraj Vasudev Shinde, allegedly learnt of the landowners' deaths and their heirs living abroad, and hatched a plan to impersonate them.

Suraj Shinde allegedly made his father, Vasudev Namdev Shinde, impersonate Nathan Chincholkar, and his brother-in-law, Manish Manohar More, impersonate Shalom Chincholkar. The gang then prepared forged PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, and other identity documents in the names of the deceased.

Using these forged documents, the accused executed a sale deed in favour of a CBD Belapur-based builder, Prashant Patekar, and his son, Shreyas Patekar. The police said the gang fraudulently obtained ₹2.29 crore through the transaction.

After the offence was registered, Suraj Shinde allegedly fled with his family members and associates, frequently changing mobile numbers, hideouts, and states to evade arrest. The investigation revealed that the accused stayed at hotels and lodges across several states, including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa.

The police were able to track down the accused using technical surveillance and intelligence inputs. A team led by Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Powar arrested Suraj Shinde, Satish Shinde, and Tejas Surve at a hotel in Thivim, Goa, with the assistance of the Goa Police.

During interrogation, the police learnt that Manish More was lodged in Colvale Central Jail in connection with a theft case, and he was taken into custody. Vasudev Namdev Shinde was later arrested from Shirdhon near Dombivli.

The police have seized forged PAN and Aadhaar cards prepared in the name of Nathan Chincholkar. The investigation has also revealed that Suraj Shinde and Tejas Surve are accused in another cheating and forgery case registered at Uran Police Station.

The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in the case, and the police suspect the involvement of more persons in the conspiracy. Further investigations are underway to uncover the extent of the fraud and bring all those involved to justice.

The case highlights the importance of verifying documents and identities in land transactions, and the need for vigilance in preventing such frauds. The police have urged anyone with information about the case to come forward and assist in the investigation.

In conclusion, the arrest of the five individuals in connection with the ₹2.29-crore land fraud case is a significant development, and the police will continue to investigate and bring those involved to justice. The case serves as a reminder of the need for caution and vigilance in land transactions, and the importance of verifying documents and identities to prevent such frauds.