Gujarat: Bail denied to Popular Builders owner in land forgery case

Ahmedabad: A sessions court on Tuesday denied bail to 67-year-old Dashrath Patel, owner of Popular Builders, in a 2022 land fraud case. Patel, currently lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail, is accused of conspiring to forge land records for a 1983 sale deed in Godhavi village.Patel's counsel argued that the dispute was essentially civil in nature. He argued that the FIR was filed nearly 39 years after the alleged transaction without explanation, and that the case was documentary, with no forged document bearing Patel's handwriting or signature. He also cited Patel's age, ailments, cooperation with investigators, and parity with a co-accused, his brother Raman Patel, who was granted bail in this case.The state govt opposed the bail plea, alleging that Patel and others created a fictitious heir, Saryudas Satrudhandasji, to secure a fraudulent mutation entry in 1982 and then executed a sale deed on Aug 25, 1983, for land Survey No. 976/2 at Godhavi village. He submitted that the original sale deed remains unavailable and alleged it was concealed or destroyed. He also pointed to seven prior antecedents, claimed threats and inducements were conveyed to the complainant through relatives, and cited his abscondence as well. After the hearing, principal district judge K M Sojitra said, "In view of the facts and circumstances noted hereinabove, seriousness of the offence, role of the applicant/accused, his past conduct and the fact that investigation is going on, this court does not deem it fit to exercise discretion in favour of the applicant."
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