The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police has officially closed a high-profile cheating and forgery case filed by veteran actress Saira Banu Khan. The case was terminated after the complainant clarified that the allegations stemmed from a misunderstanding and the matter had been peacefully settled with the accused builder, Sameer Bhojwani, and others.
Case Closure and The 'C Summary' Report
Last week, the general cheating branch of the EOW submitted a C summary closure report before a local magistrate, who accepted it. A C summary report is typically filed when an investigation concludes that a case was registered due to a mistake of fact or when the grievance is essentially of a civil nature. This classification means the information provided to the police could not be conclusively proven as entirely true or false.
Background of the Pali Hill Property Dispute
The legal battle revolved around a prime piece of real estate in an upscale Mumbai neighborhood. The dispute was over a plot measuring approximately 2,412 square yards located at Pali Hill in Bandra. Saira Banu, the wife of the legendary late actor Yusuf Khan, popularly known as Dilip Kumar, had initially lodged a First Information Report (FIR) in 2018.
In her original complaint, she alleged that builder Sameer Bhojwani and several other individuals had conspired with Mahendra Kishore Khatau and Hiten Abhay Khatav to illegally sell the valuable plot using forged documents. Based on her complaint, the Bandra police registered an FIR for charges including cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, which was later taken over by the EOW for a more detailed probe.
Amicable Resolution and Withdrawal of Allegations
The turning point in the investigation came when Saira Banu submitted a formal, notarized document to the EOW. This "Affidavit-cum-Undertaking," dated October 20, 2022, stated that her initial complaint was a result of disputes and misunderstandings between her late husband and Sameer Bhojwani.
In the affidavit, she explicitly confirmed that all disagreements had been "amicably and irrevocably settled" outside of court. Consequently, she withdrew all allegations of fraud and forgery that had been leveled against the accused. Police officials also confirmed that both parties had informed them that a related civil suit, which was pending before the Small Causes Court, had also been resolved.
Ongoing Legal Challenge for the Builder
While this particular case has been put to rest, builder Sameer Bhojwani continues to face legal challenges. A separate case is still pending against him, filed by Divyakant Khatau, a member of the Khatau trust. This case alleges that Bhojwani used forged documents to claim ownership of another plot in Pali Hill, adjacent to the actor's bungalow. The police have already filed a charge sheet in this matter, and the case is currently awaiting trial.
