NRI arrested for forgery

The Delhi Police have arrested a non-resident Indian for allegedly occupying a spacious residential flat near Connaught Place by forging its ownership papers.

The Delhi Police have arrested a non-resident Indian for allegedly occupying a spacious residential flat near Connaught Place by forging its ownership papers.

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The accused, J K Patel — who runs a research-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) — was arrested on December 2 after the actual owner P Chaterji filed a complaint with the police.

Patel had produced a 'fake licence deed' and other property papers to insist upon his ownership of the flat, located on the ground floor of Pratap Singh Building. The police then contacted the original owner who refuted the former's claims.

"Around two months ago, the complainant, P Chaterji, had begun shifting his belongings, including a few electronic items, to the flat and undertaken its renovation. But when he returned on December 2, he found the main door locked and an NRI, JK Patel, claimed he was the owner," said a senior police officer who is not authorised to talk to the media.

The officer said, "The dispute was reported to the police and during investigation it was found that Patel had forged the licence deed to prove he is the original owner of the property and misguide the police and other authorities."

"Since the complainant and the accused had both furnished licence deeds and claimed they bought it from its previous owner staying in Jaipur, a police team was sent there to verify their claims," said the source.

He added, "But when the police team asked the Jaipur-based original owner, he confirmed of having sold the flat to Chaterji. We then scanned the documents produced by Patel and found they were forged," said the officer.

The police have also booked Patel for alleged theft as Chaterji's computers and other electronic items were found missing from the flat. "We have booked Patel for trespassing, theft and forgery," said the source.

"Patel has done his doctorate from Moscow and used to visit several international countries for business work," a police source said, adding, "he runs a NGO, Foreign Policy Research Institute, from the 9th floor of the Pratap Singh Building, but we suspect even that property is disputed."