Narmada: A major land fraud involving the illegal transfer of government agricultural land in Bakhar village of Garudeshwar taluka to a non-farmer using forged and disputed documents has come to light, with fresh details emerging during the arrest and remand interrogation of former Mamlatdar and retired Deputy Collector Rohit Babulal Pakhawala.

The case was registered by CID Crime, Vadodara, following directions from the Narmada Collector. Garudeshwar Mamlatdar J.V. Vaishnav lodged a complaint against Pakhawala and two others — Jyotindra Shantilal Patel of Vadodara and Kantilal Ramswarup Shah of Garudeshwar. Both co-accused are absconding, and efforts are underway to trace them.

According to investigators, the alleged fraud dates back to 1989, when a disputed English-language will was purportedly executed by Vadodara-based landowners Gordhanbhai Jethabhai Patel and Kamlaben Patel in favour of Jyotindra Patel. A revenue entry based on the will was recorded but later cancelled in 1999 due to irregularities.

Despite the cancellation, Kantilal Shah allegedly reapplied in 2008 to transfer the same land in Jyotindra Patel’s name using the disputed will. Investigators allege that Pakhawala, then serving as Mamlatdar, abused his official position by approving Revenue Entry No. 670 without verifying whether the beneficiaries qualified as farmers under the law. The entry was subsequently certified, facilitating the transfer of the land.

Police said Jyotindra Patel later sold the land to Kantilal Shah through a registered sale deed after allegedly obtaining farmer status through fraudulent means.

The alleged scam surfaced after Vadodara resident Kamlesh Krishnakant Mehta submitted a representation to the government in 2017. During suo motu revision proceedings, the Narmada Collector found that the beneficiaries were not original farmers, declared the disputed revenue entries invalid, imposed penalties under the Ganotdhara Act, and ordered criminal proceedings against the former Mamlatdar on charges including criminal breach of trust and corruption.

CID Crime officials are continuing the investigation to ascertain the full extent of the alleged land scam and identify any other beneficiaries or officials involved. DeshGujarat