Vadodara: The Crime Branch has registered a case of alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery against a city-based builder and 10 others for allegedly creating forged authorisation documents and fraudulently selling multiple flats in the newly constructed Dharti Riviera apartment project in Akota, causing a loss of ₹4.75 crore to the developer firm.

The complaint was filed by Vijay Jitubhai Thakkar, a resident of Samriddhi Society near Amin Party Plot on Gotri Road and a partner of developer firm M/s Dharti Associates. Based on his complaint, the Crime Branch has booked 11 persons, including the alleged mastermind, Nishit Ashokchandra Panchal, and launched an investigation into the alleged fraud.

According to the FIR, M/s Dharti Associates purchased a 627-square-metre plot in Srinagar Society, Akota, from the original owner through a registered sale deed on January 30, 2020, for ₹3.64 crore. After obtaining the necessary approvals from the Vadodara Municipal Corporation, the firm constructed a five-storey residential building named Dharti Riviera, comprising 10 flats.

Investigators said Panchal, who operates from an office at Tattvam Status near the ONGC Gate on Makarpura Road, approached the developer firm claiming he had prospective buyers for the project. He allegedly offered to facilitate the sale of eight flats at attractive prices.

Trusting his assurances, the firm entered into a notarised agreement with Panchal in September 2024 for the sale of eight flats for ₹9.50 crore.

However, the complainant alleged that Panchal and his associates subsequently created forged authorisation documents in the name of the firm and, without the knowledge or consent of its partners, sold seven flats to different buyers. The accused allegedly executed the transactions using forged documents, resulting in a financial loss of ₹4.75 crore to the developer firm.

Based on the complaint, the Crime Branch has registered offences related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and other relevant provisions of law against the accused. Further investigation is underway.

Accused Named in the FIR

The accused named in the case are:

• Nishit Ashokchandra Panchal
• Jigar Indravadan Thakkar
• Jignesh Rameshbhai Ranpura
• Prakash Balachandra Shukla
• Varshaben Vijaykumar Shelke
• Vijaykumar Shelke
• Purviben Anilkumar Patel
• Yashvi Maheshbhai Panchal
• Meghal Narendrakumar Gandhi
• Vaibhav Kharwa
• Sachin Manohar Kothi

Crime Branch officials said the investigation is focused on determining the specific roles of each accused and verifying the authenticity of the documents allegedly used in the transactions. DeshGujarat