Thane: Police arrested two people and registered an FIR against three others in connection with a large-scale land fraud in Navghar in Mira-Bhayander, where a farmer and the govt were allegedly cheated through forged property documents in 2011.The complaint was filed by Balwant Patil (58), a farmer from Navghar gaon, who alleged that his family’s land was sold fraudulently without their knowledge or consent. The accused allegedly conspired to sell a 14,890 sqm property belonging to Patil’s family. The land in question was allegedly transferred using forged documents prepared between Nov 2008 and Sept 2011. A senior police officer said the accused tampered with 7/12 extracts and property papers, which were then used in govt offices and courts to complete the fraudulent transaction.The five accused are Deenanath Gawde (75), Harshad Deenanaath Gawde (53), Shyamsunder Agrawal (60), Subham Murlidhar Agrawal (38), and Sharad Murlidhar Agrawal (41), said a senior police official. Police confirmed that Subham Agrawal and Sharad Agrawal — nephews of controversial builder Shyamsunder Agrawal — have been arrested. The other three accused remain under probe. “The other accused will soon be arrested for further questioning in the case,” added the official privy to the probe.Police said, “Without the knowledge or permission of the landowner, the accused sold the property, thereby cheating both the family and the govt and misusing the power of attorney.”Police sources said Shyamsunder Agrawal, named in the FIR, has been a controversial figure in the Mira-Bhayander–Thane belt’s construction sector and has several criminal cases in the past. Over the years, his name has cropped up in several disputes linked to alleged irregularities in land dealings and construction permissions. Police said investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are likely.
