Land sharks cast net on suburbs

Mafia operating in Kondhwa, Bibwewadi asserting claim on unused land

Mafia operating in Kondhwa, Bibwewadi asserting claim on unused land

With the city already pressed for space, a surge in fictitious claimants to lands in the suburbs, have put the rightful owners in a state of bother.


Con games: The fraudsters erect a board claiming the property to be
their own in the dead of the night. Pic/Jignesh Mistry

These -- habituated to asserting their rights on assets not their own -- now want to cash in on the thriving real estate business on the precincts of the city. Recently, such false claims in Kondhwa and Bibwewadi have prompted the police to sit up and take notice.

The Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ashok Dhivare, on Monday, instructed all senior officers concerned, from 29 police stations in the city, to draw up a list of goons and gangs who indulge in such activities. Besides the local police stations, the Crime Branch will also investigate the matter and take action against the land mafia.

Nocturnal act
Elaborating on the modus operandi of the fraudsters, the police said that a gang of malefactors operating in the Kondhwa-Bibwewadi Road mark out vacant plots in the area. In the relative safety of the night, they erect a board claiming the property is owned by them. Further, to daunt imminent aggression, they appoint armed security guards all over the place.

In the ensuing days if the rightful owner happens to confront the gang, he is threatened with dire consequences. If at all the owner produces papers stating his ownership, the gang demands a few peti -- a term used by criminals for an amount of Rs 1 lakh -- for a 'settlement'.

This is what a 60-year-old woman, Sunita (name changed), residing in Karve Nagar found out much to her chagrin. Relating the harrowing experience in dealing with the land mafia operating in Kondhwa, she said: "We own a plot in Kondhwa which was usurped by a local goon. When we complained at the Kondhwa police station, the officers took prompt action and arrested the goon. He was released on bail soon after and was at it again. We can't keep a round-the-clock watch, but want our land to be protected." Landowners have approached the police stations concerned in at least four such cases.

Cops in the loop
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Economic Offences Wing) Rajendra Dahale said: "We investigate cases in which the net worth of land is more amount is more than Rs 50 lakh, but so far we haven't received any such complaint. With regard to action against the land mafia, the crime branch will initiate the process." DCP Anant Rokde said strict action would be taken against those grabbing land. "If any person is found indulging in land-grabbing activities, strict action will be taken against him. A case will be registered against the individual after proper verification. If the complaints of the citizens are not entertained at the police stations, they should approach officers in the police commissionerate," he said.