By Tejash Modi, Surat, 4 March 2012

Surat Crime Branch detained three Ahmedabad based builders Dashrath Patel, Raman Patel and Pankaj Patel for their involvement in 2010 land scam. Three Patels are witnesses in Sohrabuddin encounter case. They are known as Popular brothers as they run a firm called Popular builders.

Un Rohit Cooperative Housing Society that was dead for last twenty year was activated through bogus documents and land was purchased in its name. Cooperative society registrar had filed police complaint. Reserved land was purchased on cheaper rate, and later efforts were made to release the land. Meanwhile Un Rohit Samaj Sahkari Ghar attracted their attention, as land purchased in the name of this mandali could be released from reservation.

Ahmedabad’s Natvar Bholidas Patel, Bharat Natha Patel, Pankaj Hathibhai Patel, Chunilal Shankar Patel, Priyavadandas Narandas Patel, Chunilal Shankar Patel, Jagdish Natvar Patel, Vinod Natvar Patel, Devendra Somabhai Patel, Rajesh Dhirajbhai Patel, Ramesh Rewabhai Patel, Kalu Hirabhai Patel, Mansing L Rajput, Mansing B Darbar, Mitesh Bhagwan Patel, Satish Jayanti Patel, Shankarbhai A Rawal, Kalpesh Patel, Ramesh M Parekh, Mahesh K Patel, Nikhil V Patel, Natvar Bholidas Patel, Kishor Goswami, Dharmesh Jeram patel togather made bogus doccuments of Un Rohit Sahkari Ghar Mandli.

Later they started buying land in the name of office bearers of mandli, and sold the land to those associated with Popular builder group. Deals were done only on simple papers. As per the constitution of the mandli, the area of mandli’s work was limited to Ungam and the motive was only to build houses for Harijans. Mandli was not active since 1988.

Complainant in this issue is Surat district Superintendent of Cooperative Societies government officer who has given all the details to frame Popular builder brothers properly. The land involved in this scam is worth Rs 1,000 crore. Police had until now not worked in this case, but activeness of one farmer Rameshbhai Keshavbhai Patel , who is victim in this scam actually worked.

Update on 5 March

Patel brothers are allowed to walk free after police took their written reply.