MUMBAI: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the police has closed a case of cheating and forgery filed by actress Saira Banu Khan against builder Sameer Bhojwani and others. The complainant indicated that the matter arose from a “misunderstanding” and has since been amicably resolved.
The general cheating branch of the EOW submitted a C-summary closure report to a magistrate last week, which was accepted.
A C-summary closure signifies that a criminal case was initiated due to a mistake of facts, or that the alleged offense is of a civil nature, rendering the police report neither entirely true nor false.
This case stemmed from a long-standing property dispute regarding a prime plot of approximately 2,412 sq. yards in Pali Hill, Bandra.
Saira Banu, the widow of the late Yusuf Khan (also known as Dilip Kumar), filed an FIR in 2018, claiming that Bhojwani, along with several others, conspired with Mahendra Kishore Khatau and Hiten Abhay Khatav to sell the property using forged documents.
Following her complaint, the police registered cases of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, with the EOW taking over the investigation.
During the investigation, Saira Banu presented a notarized “Affidavit-cum-Undertaking” dated October 20, 2022, to the EOW, explaining that the complaint arose from “disputes and misunderstandings” between her late husband and Bhojwani. She confirmed that all disputes were “amicably and irrevocably settled” and that she had retracted her allegations of fraud and forgery against the involved parties. Officials noted that both Saira Banu and Bhojwani have submitted a report to the police indicating that a related civil suit in the Small Causes Court has also been resolved. The affidavit further mentioned the settlement of a civil dispute in the Small Causes Court and stated that both parties have agreed to assist in the process of quashing the FIR.
However, there remains another case against Bhojwani filed by Divyakant Khatau, a member of the Khatau trust, claiming Bhojwani forged documents to assert ownership over another plot adjacent to the actor’s bungalow in Pali Hill. The police have already submitted a charge sheet in this matter, which is pending trial.
