A massive government fraud of nearly ₹300 crore has come to light in Nashik, involving fake documents and a conspiracy between builders and trustees of the Nashik Diocesan Trust Association Pvt. Ltd. A total of 37 people, including a well-known builder and several trustees, have been booked by the police.
The case involves a six-acre plot on Sharanpur Road, where the old Police Commissionerate building once stood. Even though the land has been in government possession since 1990, the accused falsely claimed ownership. They created fake property documents and gave the land on rent to the police department, illegally collecting crores of rupees in rent over the years.
They also allegedly misled officials in the revenue, urban development, and law departments. The accused sold the land to private builders, despite having no legal right to it. The scam had been going on quietly since 1990.
The fraud came to light after an investigation was carried out by Assistant Police Inspector Tushar Deore and Senior Police Inspector Suresh Awhad from the Sarkarwada Police Station. A formal complaint was filed by API Deore, and a case has been registered against all 37 suspects.
This land, where the current Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Circle One office and a private school are located, was allegedly part of the fraudulent deal. The investigation, which began on December 16, 2024, revealed that the accused accepted rent payments and carried out land transactions without any lawful ownership.
Police are continuing the probe to uncover the full scale of the fraud and identify how government departments were misled.