MUMBAI: The crime branch has arrested a Vile Parle–based builder in connection with an alleged land-grabbing fraud involving forged powers of attorney, fake bank accounts and the fraudulent transfer of possession rights over a prime land parcel in Dahisar.The property cell of the crime branch arrested Kalpesh Kanubhai Shah, director of Puja Land and Premises Pvt Ltd, for his alleged role in a conspiracy to acquire possession rights over around 16,288.3 sq metres of land using fabricated documents.Shah was produced before the Esplanade Court, which remanded him to seven days of police custody.The alleged fraud came to light after the Bombay high court, while hearing a civil dispute between Sheikh Construction and Romell Housing, observed that two documents bore the same registration number.A subsequent verification by the joint sub-registrar’s office, Borivali, allegedly confirmed that an irrevocable power of attorney dated May 25, 2010, was forged and did not exist in official records.Police alleged that Shah, along with co-accused Prakash Chandra Dubey, knowingly relied on the forged power of attorney to execute and register transfer deeds, enabling Puja Land and Premises Pvt Ltd to obtain possession rights over the disputed land.The probe has also revealed that fake bank accounts in the names of “Kausar Nooruddin Sheikh” and “Sheikh Construction” were opened at a Mira Road bank branch to route funds linked to the transaction.Investigators claim Shah and Dubey transferred substantial sums into these accounts before the execution of the disputed documents, despite there being no legitimate sale agreement with the original landowner, KN Sheikh.During the investigation, police examined financial transactions involving co-accused Sameera Aslam Khan, who allegedly admitted to receiving Rs 29.47 lakh, including Rs 9.5 lakh in cash through bearer cheques, and paying Rs 4.5 lakh to a person identified as Kiran Ghavnalkar for preparing the forged power of attorney.Investigators further alleged that Sajid Sheikh operated the fake Sheikh Construction account through which funds were withdrawn.Police said the land belonged to KN Sheikh, who was unwilling to sell or transfer the property. They alleged that his divorced wife, Sultana Sheikh, was used to create forged general and irrevocable powers of attorney to falsely show that Sheikh had authorised her to deal with the land.Using these documents, Sultana allegedly executed transfer deeds in favour of Puja Land and Premises Pvt. Ltd., whose directors included Shah and Dubey.The crime branch has already arrested Sultana Sheikh, Sameera Khan, Sajid Sheikh, Prakash Dubey and Kiran Ghavnalkar, and filed a chargesheet against them under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 2023, and the Registration Act, 1908.Police said a supplementary chargesheet will name Shah, other wanted accused and additional persons identified during the probe.Investigators said Shah’s custodial interrogation is necessary to trace the original forged documents, examine the money trail, identify other beneficiaries of the alleged conspiracy and recover records linked to the disputed land transactions.Police have alleged that Shah was aware the power of attorney was forged but proceeded with the execution and registration of the transfer documents.
