The police’s case, based on a complaint lodged on Nov 6, 2025, by joint district register (class I) and stamp duty collector Santosh Hingane, is that the transaction was carried out by suppressing material facts, without obtaining mandatory permission or no objection certificate from the competent govt authority, and despite the revenue record and 7/12 extract reflecting that the land was “closed” and was recorded in the name of “govt of Mumbai”. Moreover, a stamp duty exemption was granted that caused a loss of Rs 21 crore of revenue to the state, the police case stated.The court said, “The allegations against the accused are serious and pertain to an alleged conspiracy involving private individuals and public servant, resulting in substantial financial loss to the state. The magnitude of the alleged loss, the manner in which statutory exemptions were applied, and the specific role attributed to the accused reflect the seriousness of the offence and its impact on public revenue.”Considering the nature and gravity of the offence, the prima facie material on record, the role attributed to the accused, and the stage of investigation, release of the present accused on bail at this juncture would affect the investigation, the court said.The court noted that the investigation was still in progress, particularly with regard to financial transactions, identification of other accused, examination of remaining witnesses and the overall conspiracy.On the defence argument that the case merely pertained to evasion of stamp duty under Maharashtra Stamp Act, the court said such narrow interpretation cannot be accepted. “The allegations on record clearly disclose offence of cheating, criminal conspiracy and allied offences. It is specifically alleged that the accused in conspiracy with the other accused deliberately facilitated evasion of stamp duty despite having full knowledge that 7/12 extract or revenue record of the said property stamps in the name of “Government of Mumbai”. Therefore, the offence cannot be reduced to a simple case of stamp duty evasion, as the material prima facie indicate conscious and fraudulent design to cause the wrongful loss to the state corresponding wrongful gain to the accused and co-accused,” the court said.On the ownership of the land, the court noted that the property card and revenue records presently reflect a mutation entry in the name of “govt of Mumbai”. “The legality and correctness of the revenue documents pertaining to the said property are themselves sub judice, as the accused herself has filed a writ petition before the Bombay High Court regarding the said property. The pendency of the writ petition clearly indicates that the status of the property and the revenue entries are not final and is subject to judicial scrutiny. Consequently, the claim that the title stood fully regularised prior to execution of the sale deed cannot be accepted at this stage,” the court said.
