Trader duped of Rs 90 lakh on pretext of land sale in Abdimandi and Chaus Colony

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

A second case within a month has been registered against a family accused of cheating several people by preparing fake ownership documents of prime land worth crores in the city and selling it by claiming it as their own. The family allegedly duped a trader of Rs 90 lakh by luring him with a promise of doubling his investment to Rs 2 crore in land at Abdimandi and Chaus Colony.

The accused have been identified as Shaikh Irfan Shaikh Shafik, Gausiya Begum Shaikh Shafik, Hajra Samreen Shaikh Shafik, Shahista T. Sher Khan Salman Shaikh, and Shaikh Shafik Shaikh Sahab (all residents of Salman Hall, Delhi Gate).

Complainant Asad Khan Aziz Khan (35), a mobile phone trader from Sabzimandi, had sold his ancestral property in the Paithan Gate area and received ₹90 lakh from the sale. In 2023, Shaikh Irfan Shaikh Azhar came into contact with him and offered him an investment proposal in three plots measuring 31 R in Gut No. 40 at Abdimandi and 88 R of land in Chaus Colony.

Irfan allegedly claimed the land belonged to him and even showed documents to support the claim. He promised that an investment of Rs 1 crore in the land would yield a return of Rs 2 crore.

Fraud revealed after payment

Trusting the documents shown to him, Asad Khan completed the purchase and paid Rs 90 lakh. The registration was also formally done through the district collector’s office. However, even by 2024 the accused did not hand over possession of the land. Growing suspicious, Asad Khan conducted a deeper inquiry and discovered that the same land at Abdimandi had already been sold to 12 people in the name of a servant, through which Irfan had allegedly collected crores of rupees.

Investigations also revealed that Irfan had committed a similar fraud in 2014 and 2015 by selling the same land to two other individuals. Notably, none of the plots were actually registered in his name, yet he allegedly prepared forged documents and arranged registrations.

Case already registered on February 4

In another case, Irfan and his family had allegedly cheated businessman Shaikh Imran Shaikh Ahmed Sharif (37), a resident of Sillod, of Rs 1.90 crore by promising to sell 19 gunthas of land in Himayatnagar and 16 acres 29 gunthas in Jogwada in the district. A case in that matter was registered at City Chowk police station on February 4.

Officials said another land fraud case involving crores of rupees may also be registered against the family.

Will officials also face action?

Serious questions are now being raised as Irfan and his family allegedly prepared forged ownership documents for land worth crores and managed to get sale deeds registered without verification. Police said the role of officials from the revenue department will also be investigated. Senior police inspector Sambhaji Pawar is conducting further investigation.

Irfan absconding, family members detained

After the case was registered on February 4, the main accused Shaikh Irfan Shaikh Shafik fled the city. On Saturday, after another case was registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EoW), police detained his family members, Gausiya Begum Shaikh Shafik, Hajra Samreen Shaikh Shafik, Shahista T. Sher Khan Salman Shaikh, and Shaikh Shafik Shaikh Sahab.