Ahmedabad Crime Branch’s economic offences wing has busted a land mafia involving Mohammed Ismail Sheikh and Tarang Dave, a notary. They are accused of cheating a land owner with fake documents worth crores and demanding ₹12 cr as extortion in the name of a settlement.
As per the complaint filed by Abdulsalam Mansuri of Shahpur, he had purchased a piece of land in Juhapura from his father-in-law in 2010.
In 2013, the land was divided into four parts by order of the city mamlatdar, and Mansuri sold half his share of land to two people.
Thereafter, Mansuri obtained permission from Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) for construction on his land and started work.
Meanwhile, Mansuri received a notice that the sale deed of this land was done in July 2018, and the buyer of the land was an individual named Mohammed Ismail Sheikh.
On further investigation, it was found that Mohammed Ismail had prepared land documents by forging signatures based on a bogus power of attorney in the name of Abdul Mansuri in 2010. Moreover, a false entry was also made in the document stating that a payment of ₹12 lakh had been made. These documents were notarised by Tarang Dave.
Mansuri had never met or known Mohammed Ismail or Tarang Dave. When Mansuri initiated legal action in the case, Mohammed Ismail slapped a special civil application against him.
Upon approaching Mohammed Ismail to resolve the matter, he demanded ₹12 cr to settle the issue
Meanwhile, Mansuri came to know that Mohammed Ismail and Tarang Dave ran a massive gang involved in illegal land grabbing. More than 23 cases have been registered against them in Ahmedabad at Asarwa, Sarkhej, Karanj, Satellite, Sola, Ghatlodia, Shahpur, Vatva, Isanpur, Kalupur, Sabarmati, Odhav, Nikol, and Ramol as well as Bopal police stations.
A preliminary investigation by the police has revealed that they have also extorted crores of rupees through fake land documents. The eco wing of the crime branch has registered a case and arrested the duo.