Crime Branch Arrests Builder Kalpesh Kanubhai Shah In Dahisar Land Grab Fraud
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has arrested Vile Parle-based builder Kalpesh Kanubhai Shah in connection with an alleged land-grabbing fraud involving 16,288.3 square meters of prime land in Dahisar. The fraud was uncovered after the joint sub-registrar’s office in Borivali verified that a key power of attorney document was forged. Shah, the director of Puja Land and Premises Pvt Ltd, has been remanded to seven days of police custody by the Esplanade Court.
The alleged fraud came to light during a Bombay High Court hearing of a civil dispute between Sheikh Construction and Romell Housing. The court observed that two documents bore the exact same registration number. Subsequent verification by the Borivali joint sub-registrar’s office confirmed that an irrevocable power of attorney dated May 25, 2010, was forged and did not exist in official records.
Police allege that Shah, along with co-accused Prakash Chandra Dubey, knowingly used the forged power of attorney to execute and register transfer deeds. This enabled Puja Land and Premises Pvt Ltd to fraudulently obtain possession rights over the prime Dahisar land, which belonged to KN Sheikh. Investigators stated that KN Sheikh was unwilling to sell or transfer his property.
According to the police, KN Sheikh's divorced wife, Sultana Sheikh, was used to create the forged general and irrevocable powers of attorney to falsely show she was authorised to deal with the land. Sultana then allegedly executed transfer deeds in favour of Puja Land and Premises Pvt Ltd.
The investigation also revealed that fake bank accounts under the names "Kausar Nooruddin Sheikh" and "Sheikh Construction" were opened at a bank branch in Mira Road to route funds. Investigators claim Shah and Dubey transferred substantial sums into these accounts before executing the disputed documents.
The Crime Branch has already arrested Sultana Sheikh, Sameera Khan, Sajid Sheikh, Prakash Dubey, and Kiran Ghavnalkar, and filed a chargesheet against them. Sameera Khan allegedly admitted to receiving Rs 29.47 lakh, including Rs 9.5 lakh in cash, and paying Rs 4.5 lakh to Ghavnalkar for preparing the forged document. Sajid Sheikh allegedly operated the fake Sheikh Construction account to withdraw funds.
Police plan to file a supplementary chargesheet naming Shah and other suspects. Investigators stated that Shah's custodial interrogation is necessary to trace the original forged documents, examine the money trail, and identify other beneficiaries of the conspiracy.
