September 1, 2025: Mumbai Police are investigating a large-scale land scam in Kandivli, where heirs of a developer, along with a builder, allegedly forged documents to reclaim nearly 2.5 acres of land already surrendered to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) more than four decades ago.
The complaint was filed on August 4, 2025 by BMC engineer Sunil Shete at Borivli police station, following which the case was transferred to the property cell of the city crime branch.
According to the FIR, the disputed plot spans 29,696 sq. m. (over seven acres) and originally belonged to Nanubhai Bhat. Under the 1967 Development Plan, part of the land was reserved for civic amenities, including a municipal school, playground, maternity home, nursing home, higher education institute, and a park. In 1978, Bhat surrendered the reserved portion to BMC in exchange for additional Floor Space Index (FSI), enabling him to construct 18 residential buildings on the unreserved land. BMC subsequently developed roads, a clinic, a gymnasium, and a pay-and-park facility on the surrendered plots, which remain in public use.
Despite this, Bhat’s heirs allegedly reinserted their names in property records in 2002 by falsely claiming inheritance rights. In 2004, they executed a forged power of attorney in favour of Vadilal Shah and Vijay Seth. This was later transferred to Shah’s wife, Bhavna, who, along with their son Rinkesh, is accused of carrying out fraudulent sale and purchase transactions between December 2024 and January 2025.
The FIR names several accused, including Rinkesh Shah, Bhavna Shah, Jagdish Bhat, Suresh Bhat, Girish Bhat, Vatsala Joshi, and Malini Dave. Police have booked them under charges of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
The crime branch is now probing the case, while BMC has appealed before the District Superintendent of Land Records to secure its ownership rights.
Source: The Times of india
