Daijiworld Media Network- Nashik

Nashik, Jun 13: In a massive land scam that has rocked the city, Nashik Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 37 individuals—including trustees, 22 builders, and architects—accused of duping government departments in a fraudulent land deal worth an estimated Rs 300 crore.

Shockingly, the disputed six-acre property once housed the old office of the Nashik City Police Commissioner, and officials now confirm that the police department itself was deceived through forged lease agreements.

As per police reports, the land had been leased to the police since 1990 by a body calling itself the Nashik Diocesan Council (NDC). However, investigations revealed that the legitimate ownership lies with the Nashik Diocesan Trust Association (NDTA), not NDC. Authorities believe the NDC misused the name and authority of the original trust to lease and sell the land illegally, reaping wrongful financial gains in the process.

The same land is currently home to several establishments including the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-1), the city traffic department, a private school, and a few other institutions. The Commissioner’s office was relocated to Gangapur Road in 2014, but the land remained in official use.

An internal probe led by the DCP office had been underway since December 16, 2024, focusing on the suspicious transfer of property by trustees of the so-called NDC. Acting on the findings, a suo motu FIR was registered at Sarkarwada police station on Wednesday, initiating legal action against the 37 named accused, which include not only the trustees but also those who allegedly purchased or helped facilitate the illegal transaction.

Authorities continue to dig deeper into what is now being termed as one of the largest land frauds in Nashik’s recent memory, with further arrests and property seizures expected in the days ahead.