Vadodara, Gujarat: A suspected ₹2.62 crore land compensation fraud linked to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project has surfaced in Gujarat’s Vadodara district. Police have registered a case against five accused after allegations that a deceased woman’s consent documents were forged in an attempt to fraudulently claim compensation for land acquired under the expressway project.
According to police, the complaint was filed by Laljibhai Somabhai Padhiyar (47), a resident of Ranu village. The complainant stated that ancestral land bearing Survey No. 377/8 in Sherkhi village was jointly owned by his late mother, Surajben, and his maternal grandfather, Khushalbhai Bhalabhai Parmar. A portion of the land was acquired in 2017 for the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project.
The complainant alleged that in 2018, his maternal uncle, Chatrasingh Khushalbhai Parmar, received more than ₹3.26 crore as the first instalment of land acquisition compensation. However, neither his mother nor any other members of the family allegedly received their rightful share of the compensation.
According to the FIR, Surajben passed away on January 10, 2023. Despite her death, a consent agreement was allegedly prepared in her name on July 19, 2024, during the process of releasing the second instalment of compensation worth over ₹2.62 crore pursuant to an order of the Gujarat High Court.
The complaint alleges that the document carried the deceased woman’s photograph, a forged thumb impression and notarisation, even though she had already died. Police said the allegedly forged consent agreement was submitted before the Special Land Acquisition Officer in an attempt to fraudulently obtain the compensation amount.
The FIR names Nathubhai Khushalbhai Parmar, Samantsinh Adesinh Parmar, Takhatsinh, Rajendra Parmar, and notary Ela C. Parekh as accused. Investigators allege that they acted together in preparing, certifying and using the forged documents.
The complainant further claimed that despite being one of the legal heirs, he has not received his lawful share of the compensation. Police are examining the authenticity of the documents, notary records, land acquisition files and other evidence as part of the investigation.
According to a Researcher at Algoritha Security, property and land compensation frauds often involve forged identities, fabricated documents, fake signatures or thumb impressions to exploit official procedures. Independent verification of legal heirs, forensic examination of documents and multi-layer authentication before releasing compensation are among the most effective safeguards against such fraud.
The Ravpura Police are continuing their investigation to determine how the alleged forged documents were created, identify the role of each accused and establish whether the compensation was fraudulently claimed or disbursed. Further legal action will be taken based on the findings of the ongoing investigation.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
