Gandhinagar: An 18-bigha parcel of land valued at nearly Rs 190 crore near GIFT City, owned by an NRI farmer, was allegedly transferred using forged documents without the owner’s knowledge, prompting the registration of a fresh FIR following intervention by the Gujarat High Court.

The FIR against accused Kaushik Vaghasiya and his associates is based on the findings of an inquiry conducted by the Collector-led Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) and the Land Grabbing Vigilance Committee. The investigation is being carried out by Dabhoda police.

The land in question is located in Ratanpur village and belongs to 74-year-old Prabhudas Patel, originally from Rampura village in Kheda district. The land parcel was bought by Patel, who lives abroad, in 2007 via a registered sale deed. Revenue records consistently reflected his ownership over the years.

According to the complaint, Vaghasiya allegedly forged Patel’s signature and prepared a fake power of attorney, which was later notarized and used to execute a sale deed in his favor without Patel’s consent or knowledge. Investigators have also alleged that a false affidavit was prepared and notarized despite Patel being alive and continuing to hold legal ownership of the land.

The alleged fraud surfaced when Patel visited the property and noticed a signboard displaying Vaghasiya’s name on the land.

In 2024, Patel and his associate, Rakesh Gohil, approached the Collector-led Special Investigation Team with separate applications alleging document forgery and land grabbing. Following the complaint, Vaghasiya was arrested, and a chargesheet was filed in the forgery case.

However, as no separate FIR was registered in connection with the alleged land grabbing, Patel moved the Gujarat High Court. On February 6, the High Court directed authorities to take a decision within eight weeks. The process was delayed due to the retirement of the then Gandhinagar collector during the intervening period.

After the deadline expired on June 9, the newly appointed Collector directed the registration of a separate land-grabbing case, and an FIR was lodged the same day.

The probe is currently being supervised by Additional Superintendent of Police Ayush Jain, who is examining the sequence of transactions, alleged forged documents, possible conspirators, and the circumstances under which the land ownership was allegedly transferred. DeshGujarat