In a significant development, two fresh First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed, accusing Housing Development Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL) promoter Rakesh Wadhwan, along with his office staff and real estate agents, of criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery. The FIRs, registered by the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) police on court’s order, are based on complaints from owners of two hutments in Bharat Nagar slum.
According to the complainants, Fariuddin Shaikh (68) and Hamidabano Shaikh (55), HDIL and its associates allegedly forged signatures and created fake documents in February and March 2006 to acquire rights for redevelopment in Bharat Nagar slum. The two FIRs have named Rakesh Kumar Wadhwan, agent Usman Shaikh, Nasrin Shaikh, and others as accused.
The complainants claim that HDIL created a fake sale deed, affidavit, and power of attorney in 2006. They allege that HDIL got the contract for the redevelopment of Bharat Nagar and Maharashtra Nagar in April 2006, signing an agreement with them for permanent alternate accommodation. HDIL paid Rs 5 lakhs as rent for transit stay between April 2006 and June 2011. However, since 2012, they have been denied transit rent.
The revelations came to light during a hearing in 2018, where the hutment owners discovered that their documents were allegedly forged, showing ownership in the names of Usman Shaikh and Nasrin Shaikh. The FIRs have been filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery.
The case gains additional significance as it follows Rakesh Kumar Wadhwan’s release on bail in November 2023, granted on medical grounds, in connection with a Rs 4,300-crore Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank scam case.
A BKC police officer mentioned that they have sought details and documents related to the case from the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) authority before taking further action. The initiation of these FIRs comes after the court’s order, following the complaints filed by the two hutment owners.
