Navi Mumbai: Police have arrested five members of an alleged fraud syndicate accused of illegally selling a plot of land worth ₹2.29 crore in Navi Mumbai by assuming the identities of its deceased owners. Investigators said the group created forged identity documents in the names of the deceased landowners and executed the sale while repeatedly changing their phone numbers, hideouts and identities to evade arrest. After a five-month operation, the accused were traced and apprehended through technical surveillance and intelligence-based investigation.
According to the police, the alleged mastermind of the conspiracy is Suraj Vasudev Shinde. Investigators claim that he persuaded his father and brother-in-law to impersonate the two deceased brothers who were the registered owners of the property. Forged Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and other identity documents were allegedly prepared and used to establish false ownership and complete the sale of the land.
The investigation revealed that the targeted property was located in Karanjade and originally belonged to brothers Nathan Eliyahu Chincholkar and Shalom (Selim) Eliyahu Chincholkar. The brothers had migrated to Israel several years ago, where they later passed away. Police allege that the accused exploited their deaths by assuming their identities, falsely claiming ownership of the property and selling it for approximately ₹2.29 crore.
Police said the accused remained on the run by constantly changing locations, making their arrest particularly challenging. During the investigation, it emerged that Suraj Shinde had moved across several states, including Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, while attempting to avoid capture. Some of his relatives, who are also suspected of involvement in the fraud, allegedly accompanied him during this period.
Using technical analysis, mobile location tracking, digital evidence and intelligence inputs, investigators eventually traced Suraj Shinde to Thivim in Goa. He was arrested along with his uncle, Satish Namdev Shinde, and cousin, Tejas Pramod Surve. Police also found that another accused, Manish More, had already been arrested by Mapusa Police in an unrelated theft case and was lodged in Colvale Central Jail. Vasudev Shinde was separately arrested from Dombivli on July 27.
Searches conducted following the arrests led to the recovery of forged Aadhaar and PAN cards prepared in the names of the deceased landowners. Investigators are now examining who assisted in creating the forged documents and whether a larger organised network was involved in facilitating the fraud.
Preliminary findings indicate that the accused relied on multiple mobile numbers and frequently changed their hideouts to conceal their identities, significantly delaying the investigation. However, sustained technical surveillance and coordinated intelligence gathering across multiple states ultimately enabled investigators to dismantle the alleged network.
Police are continuing to examine the financial trail, including the movement of funds generated through the sale of the land, and are investigating the possible involvement of additional suspects. Officials believe that further aspects of the alleged fraud may emerge as the investigation progresses. Legal proceedings in the case are ongoing.
