The Vadodara Crime Branch has registered a case against a city-based builder and 10 others for allegedly forging authorisation documents and illegally selling multiple flats in the Dharti Riviera apartment project in Akota, causing a loss of ₹4.75 crore to the developer firm.
The complaint was filed by Vijay Jitubhai Thakkar, a resident of Samriddhi Society near Amin Party Plot on Gotri Road and a partner of M/s Dharti Associates. Based on his complaint, the Crime Branch booked 11 accused, including alleged mastermind Nishit Ashokchandra Panchal, and started an investigation into the alleged fraud.
According to the FIR, M/s Dharti Associates purchased a 627-square-metre plot in Srinagar Society, Akota, through a registered sale deed on January 30, 2020, for ₹3.64 crore. After receiving the required approvals from the Vadodara Municipal Corporation, the firm constructed a five-storey residential building named Dharti Riviera with 10 flats.
Investigators said Panchal, who runs an office at Tattvam Status near the ONGC Gate on Makarpura Road, approached the developer firm claiming he had buyers interested in the project. He allegedly offered to help sell eight flats at attractive rates.
Believing his assurances, the developer firm entered into a notarised agreement with Panchal in September 2024 for the sale of eight flats worth ₹9.50 crore.
However, the complainant alleged that Panchal and his associates later created forged authorisation documents in the name of the firm and sold seven flats to different buyers without the knowledge or permission of the partners.
Police said the accused allegedly completed the transactions using fake documents, causing a financial loss of ₹4.75 crore to the developer firm.
Based on the complaint, the Crime Branch registered offences related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and other relevant sections of law against the accused. Further investigation is underway.
The accused named in the FIR are Nishit Ashokchandra Panchal, Jigar Indravadan Thakkar, Jignesh Rameshbhai Ranpura, Prakash Balachandra Shukla, Varshaben Vijaykumar Shelke, Vijaykumar Shelke, Purviben Anilkumar Patel, Yashvi Maheshbhai Panchal, Meghal Narendrakumar Gandhi, Vaibhav Kharwa and Sachin Manohar Kothi.
Crime Branch officials said they are investigating the role of each accused and verifying the authenticity of the documents allegedly used in the flat sale transactions.