Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: In a crackdown on alleged property registration frauds, police commissioner Praveen Pawar has constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe multiple cases of cheating, impersonation and violations of stamp and registration laws at sub-registrar offices in the city.
Background of the Investigation
The move follows a review of cases registered at the City Chowk and Satara police stations, which oversee key registration offices handling property transactions. The police said at least 11 cases involving fraudulent deals and fake identities were reported between 2024 and 2026.
Police Commissioner's Directive
Directing a deeper probe, Pawar said the focus would be on uncovering a wider network behind the scams. “The SIT has been constituted to thoroughly investigate these offences, examine the possibility of an organised gang’s involvement and ensure that strong evidence is collected so that effective charge sheets can be filed before the court,” he said.
Evidence of Organized Racket
Investigations so far have pointed to instances of impersonation during registration, forged documentation, and suspected manipulation of property records under the Stamp and Registration Act. Officials suspect these may not be isolated incidents but part of a coordinated racket operating through registration offices.
Composition of the SIT
The SIT will be headed by deputy commissioner of police (crime) Prashant Mohite and include ACPs Sagar Deshmukh and Manish Kalyankar, along with officers from the crime branch, economic offences wing, cyber police and local police stations. Senior officers said the team will analyse patterns across cases, scrutinise documents, digital trails and financial transactions, and determine whether the accused acted independently or as part of an organised network.
Public Appeal for Cooperation
Appealing for public cooperation, Pawar urged people with complaints related to property fraud, impersonation or registration violations to come forward. “Public participation will help identify more victims and uncover the full extent of such offences,” police said, sharing helpline numbers for assistance.
Next Steps
The SIT is expected to intensify the probe in the coming weeks, with a focus on building watertight cases against those involved in the alleged fraud network. Stay updated with the latest Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar news.
