MUMBAI: An investigation is underway regarding a purported land scam in Kandivli, involving the heirs of a developer who, along with a builder, allegedly forged documents to reclaim approximately 2.5 acres of land that had already been surrendered to the BMC in return for additional Floor Space Index (FSI).
The case was initiated at Borivli police station by BMC engineer Sunil Shete on August 4, 2025. The city’s crime branch has since taken over the case.
Meanwhile, authorities have charged the original landowner and the developer who constructed 18 residential buildings on the unreserved five acres of the land. The accused are alleged to have fraudulently sold the BMC-acquired land to third parties using a power of attorney.
The FIR names several individuals, including Rinkesh Vadilal Shah, his wife Bhavna Shah, their son Rinkesh Shah, and others for allegedly forging documents related to BMC-owned land. They reportedly engaged in sale transactions to cheat the BMC financially.
The disputed land, measuring 29,696.34 sq. m. (over seven acres) in Kandivli, originally belonged to Nanubhai Bhat. This plot was partially designated in the 1967 Development Plan for civic amenities such as a municipal school, playground, maternity home, nursing home, old age home, higher education institute, and a park.
In 1973, Bhat and his children formed the Indian Plubango Company. On March 23, 1978, Bhat notified the BMC of the intent to surrender the reserved portion of the land in exchange for increased FSI benefits.
A registered deed was processed, and on May 15, 1978, his company handed over the reserved land to the BMC. In return, the corporation issued a possession receipt, granting the developer an additional 50% FSI on the reserved plots and 100% FSI on the DP Road.
Taking advantage of this benefit, the developer built 18 residential structures on the unreserved portion of the land. Subsequently, the BMC developed civic amenities on the surrendered land, which includes a road, clinic, gymnasium, and pay-and-park facility, all of which are now accessible to the public.
Despite this, in 2002, Bhat’s heirs—Jagdish Nanubhai Bhat, Suresh Bhat, Girish Bhat, Vatsala Joshi, and Malini Dave—reportedly reinstated their names in the property records at the Municipal Survey Office in Borivli by falsely asserting inheritance rights, knowing full well that the land had already been surrendered to BMC.
On February 19, 2004, the BMC discovered that the heirs had executed a fraudulent power of attorney in favor of Vadilal Shah and Vijay Seth, granting them authority over the land.
Using this deceptive document, Vadilal Shah issued another power of attorney to his wife Bhavna Vadilal Shah in October 2024. She and her son Rinkesh Vadilal Shah allegedly engaged in sale transactions from December 2024 to January 2025, even though the land was under the BMC’s possession and designated for public amenities.
Since 1990, the BMC has been seeking updates to its name in property records, but the fraudulent claims by the heirs have hindered the process, police reported.
In 2024, hearings took place where the heirs did not appear, leading the BMC to file an appeal with the District Superintendent of Land Records in Mumbai Suburban, where the issue is currently unresolved. To prevent further misuse, plaques identifying the land as BMC-owned have been installed at the site.
Officials stated that the accused conspired to wrongfully take over civic-owned land despite being fully aware that the BMC had developed facilities for the community on it.
Police have charged the accused with cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. The Crime Branch is actively investigating this scam further.
