PSI held for illegal sale of NRG land

AHMEDABAD: A team of Sanand GIDC police arrested four people including a police sub-inspector (PSI) for selling plots of land near Sanand in 2004. The case was investigated by a district-level special investigation team (SIT) and after finding evidence against the accused, they were arrested late on Sunday. SIT officials said that in its five-year history, this is the first case where a policeman was found directly involved and was arrested.
According to Sanand GIDC police, Sumit Savaliya, had bought three plots at Zamp village near Sanand bearing survey numbers 423, 424 and 428, a total area of 80 bighas, from Bogha Gohil and others in 2004. He paid Rs 1,05,63,000 towards the deal and documentation.
During registration process with district land revenue records and mamlatdar office to get the property on his name, Savaliya was shocked to know that the aforesaid plots did not belong to the sellers.
"He investigated the matter and learned that the owners were Dhirubhai Rambhai and Kusumbhai Rambhai, natives of Sanand who migrated to the US several years ago. Savaliya approached their relatives and confirmed that the brothers had never sold their land. Realizing he was duped, he approached SIT. An FIR was filed in the case on August 2," said R B Karmatiya, sub-inspector of Sanand GIDC police station.
Police arrested Bogha Gohil, Dhiru Gohil and Atul Shah along with S B Vaghela, who is currently posted as PSI with Gandhinagar police's traffic branch, on Sunday after the registration of FIR. Six others have been named as those who helped the prime accused in the crime.
"Vaghela was found involved in forging the power of attorney, on the basis of which the sale deed was drawn up. Other documents forged included an agreement for possession and a sale deed. We have sought forensic science experts to assess the seized documents. We are also investigating a bank account in a Satellite-based cooperative bank in which the accused held accounts and received cheques. We are yet to ascertain who got what from the deal," said Karmatiya.