₹500 crore land scam: Landowner arrested, released on technical grounds

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Saturday arrested Mir Mehmood Ali Khan Mir Basarat Ali Khan (75, Hyderabad) in connection with the alleged Rs 500 crore scam involving nine acres at Bagh Sherjang, Daudpur. However, the court ordered his release on technical grounds.

The case pertains to nine acres of land that had already been transferred through a power of attorney and a hibanama (gift deed). It later emerged that a second hibanama was allegedly executed in favour of the driver of MP Sandipan Bhumre. Following an inquiry, the Jawaharnagar police registered a cheating case on March 28 against the MP’s driver, Javed Shaikh (Hussain Nagar), and the original landowner, Mir Mehmood Ali Khan. The land is valued at Rs 241 crore as per ready reckoner rates, while its market value is estimated between Rs 500 crore and Rs 550 crore. According to the complaint by Advocate Mujahid Iqbal Khan(Parbhani), the landowner had executed an sell agreement the nine acres to him at Rs 1 crore per acre and subsequently executed a hibanama in his favour. However, the same land was allegedly transferred again through a notarised hibanama to Javed Shaikh, who was also given possession. The EOW summoned Mir Mehmood for questioning on Friday night and arrested him, producing him before the court on Saturday afternoon. His counsel argued that he had appeared in response to a notice and that the offence carries a maximum punishment of five years, making it bailable. Questioning the need for arrest while he was complying with the notice, the defence sought relief. Accepting these technical grounds, the court ordered his release.