Police have registered an FIR against four people in Ahmedabad after a 72-year-old woman alleged that forged ownership documents were used to mortgage her residential plot and obtain a ₹1 crore home loan. Investigators are examining property records, digital land documents and loan files to determine how the mortgage was processed.
The complaint was filed by Bhanuben Rajeshbhai Patel, who said she had legally purchased Plot No. 531 in Shri Vrajshyam Co-operative Housing Society at Ghuma through a registered sale deed in December 2020. The housing society transferred the property in her name in January 2021 and issued the original share certificate confirming her ownership.
Recovery Notice Revealed Alleged Fraud
The alleged fraud came to light in March 2026 when the complainant’s son visited the vacant plot and found a recovery notice pasted on the compound wall.
The notice had reportedly been issued by a housing finance company after the alleged borrower defaulted on loan repayment. After this, the family obtained certified digital property records, which allegedly showed ownership-related documents in the name of another individual.
Preliminary findings raised suspicion that forged records had been used to mortgage the property and secure a home loan.
Fake Share Certificate Under Probe
According to the investigation, the accused allegedly prepared a fabricated allotment letter and a forged share certificate showing the plot as having been allotted to Nirmal Karamchand Balani.
The complaint alleges that the documents carried counterfeit seals of the housing society and forged signatures of the society’s chairman. Investigators suspect that these documents were submitted to the housing finance company to establish ownership and obtain the loan.
Police further allege that Nirmal Karamchand Balani executed declarations, registration documents and the registered mortgage deed using the disputed records.
Loan Sanction Process Examined
According to investigators, a ₹1 crore home loan was sanctioned on October 31, 2023, with Nirmal Balani listed as the principal borrower and Bhavesh Balani as the co-applicant.
Bhavesh Ghanshyambhai Balani and Kamleshbhai Shankarlal Gurnani are accused of acting as witnesses during the mortgage transaction. The FIR names Padipak Nanakram Ahuja, Kamleshbhai Shankarlal Gurnani, Nirmal Karamchand Balani and Bhavesh Ghanshyambhai Balani as accused.
The complaint also alleges that an order relating to the Stamp Duty Valuation Department was obtained using the alleged forged allotment letter. Police are now examining the authenticity of the ownership records, the loan approval process and the role of each accused in the alleged fraud.
