Fraudsters create fake documents to siphon off compensation for NRI land owners in Gujarat, leading to arrests and a police investigation.
A post on X (formerly Twitter In a disturbing land scam in Gujarat, five individuals have been accused of fraudulently claiming ₹86.12 lakh in compensation meant for NRI landowners. The compensation was part of the land acquisition process for the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway. Two of the accused have already been arrested, while the police investigation continues, reported by gujaratsamachar.com
The fraud was uncovered when Bharat Patel, a local farmer and Power of Attorney (POA) holder for the NRI owners, noticed discrepancies in the compensation payment.
The scam involved the government’s acquisition of a 2,295 square metre plot in Sarpor village, Navsari district, which was part of the ongoing construction of the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway. Bharat Patel had been appointed as the POA for the original landowners, who had settled abroad and were unable to manage their land or oversee the land acquisition process personally.
Initially, the land acquisition compensation was deemed insufficient by the landowners, and Patel, acting as their representative, applied for higher compensation. However, Patel’s investigation into the compensation process revealed a shocking discovery. The Prant Office, responsible for transferring funds related to the land acquisition, had paid ₹86.12 lakh to the NRI’s bank account. However, Patel was alarmed to learn that this substantial amount had already been withdrawn from the NRI’s bank account under suspicious circumstances.
The fraud was exposed through the use of Right to Information (RTI), which revealed forged documents and a series of illegal transactions.
Patel, determined to uncover the truth, filed an RTI request, which led to the discovery of forged documents linked to the transaction. Investigations revealed that a fake Aadhaar card, a bogus affidavit, and a counterfeit certificate had been created in the name of the original landowner. A fake bank account was also opened, allowing the perpetrators to siphon off the ₹86.12 lakh meant for the NRI owners.
In response to these findings, Patel filed a complaint with the Navsari Rural Police. The accused individuals, identified as Shirish Ahi, Dipak Patel, Sandeep Patel, Ishwarlal Patel, and Kanaiya Tailor, were named in the complaint. Police have already arrested two of the suspects involved in the fraudulent transaction, and further investigations are underway to track down the remaining individuals responsible.
The scam highlights the growing concern of fraudulent activities targeting NRIs, especially in land transactions and government compensation schemes. The police have assured that they will continue to investigate the matter thoroughly to bring all the culprits to justice and recover the stolen funds.
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