🔴 By | Arvind Jadhav
Panvel: A high-value land fraud case in Karanjade, Panvel, has taken a serious new turn after a trustee associated with the Beth El Synagogue Trust was named as an accused during the investigation. Police allege that a 47-guntha plot linked to a Jewish family was fraudulently sold to a builder for around ₹2.3 crore using forged property and identity documents.
Five accused persons have already been arrested in connection with the alleged fraud. Meanwhile, Mojhes Alayza Jacob and Aslam Munshi are reportedly absconding, according to the latest police-related reports. Jacob’s anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Panvel Sessions Court, after which he approached the Bombay High Court seeking protection from arrest.
🟡 47-Guntha Property Sold for ₹2.3 Crore
According to the complaint and police investigation, construction businessman Prashant Patekar was looking to purchase land in 2024 when estate agent Amrit Thakur allegedly introduced him to a 47-guntha property at Survey No. 81/2 in Karanjade.
Another agent, Suraj Vasudev Shinde, allegedly provided documents relating to the property. The deal was reportedly finalised at around ₹5 lakh per guntha, taking the total value to approximately ₹2.3 crore.
Patekar reportedly had the documents examined through a lawyer before proceeding with the transaction. A sale deed was registered at the Panvel-1 Sub-Registrar’s Office on August 23, 2024. Police allege that forged property documents and fake Aadhaar and PAN cards were used during the transaction.
🟡 Dead Landowners Allegedly Shown as Sellers
The alleged fraud centres on brothers Nathan Eliyahu Chincholkar and Shalom (Selim) Eliyahu Chincholkar, who were originally from Panvel but had migrated to Israel.
Police investigation found that Nathan died in 2011, while Shalom died in 2016. Their legal heirs are reportedly living in Israel and the United States.
Investigators allege that people impersonating the deceased owners appeared in the property transaction and used forged identity documents to complete the sale. Police also seized alleged fake Aadhaar and PAN cards prepared in Nathan Chincholkar’s name.
🟡 How the Alleged Fraud Came to Light
The transaction came under suspicion in August 2025 after Orian Moses Penkar, who had received power of attorney from Shalom’s son Bechalel, reportedly issued a notice challenging the sale.
Further inquiries allegedly established that the original owners had died years earlier and that their heirs were living abroad.
The builder subsequently approached the police, leading to a detailed investigation into the disputed land transaction.
🟡 Trust Official’s Role Under Investigation
One of the most significant developments came when Aslam Munshi, acting on behalf of Beth El Synagogue Trust chief trustee Moses E. Jacob Korlekar, initially approached the police and alleged that the people who had presented themselves as the landowners were impostors.
However, according to the latest report, the investigation later turned towards Mojhes Alayza Jacob, who is described as a managing trustee and secretary of the Beth El Synagogue Trust.
The prosecution alleges that Jacob was familiar with the ownership history of the property and knew that the original owners had died and that their heirs were residing abroad. Investigators further allege that Jacob had a role in the disputed transaction.
🟡 Alleged ₹1 Crore Money Trail
A particularly serious allegation emerging from the investigation concerns the alleged distribution of the proceeds.
According to the prosecution’s case reported before the court, Jacob, Munshi and others allegedly discussed sharing 50% of the sale proceeds. The prosecution further alleges that Jacob authorised Munshi through a power of attorney and that the two allegedly received around ₹1 crore.
Police reportedly suspect that the money was transferred from an account linked to persons allegedly involved in impersonating the deceased landowners. These allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial scrutiny.
🟡 Anticipatory Bail Plea Rejected
Jacob sought anticipatory bail to avoid arrest. However, the Panvel Sessions Court rejected his plea.
According to the latest report, the prosecution argued that his custodial interrogation was necessary to establish the alleged conspiracy and trace the financial transactions.
The court reportedly observed, at the prima facie stage, that Jacob appeared to have had an active role in the alleged offence and that the investigation was still at an initial stage. Jacob has since approached the Bombay High Court seeking protection from arrest.
🟡 Five Already Arrested
Panvel City Police had earlier arrested five people in connection with the alleged land fraud:
Suraj Vasudev Shinde
Satish Namdev Shinde
Tejas Pramod Surve
Manish Manohar More
Vasudev Namdev Shinde
Police allege that Vasudev Shinde impersonated Nathan Eliyahu Chincholkar. Investigators also recovered alleged fake Aadhaar and PAN cards in the deceased owner’s name.
Three of the accused were arrested in Goa, one was taken into custody from a jail in Goa in connection with the case, and Vasudev Shinde was arrested from Dombivli.
🟡 Investigation Expands Beyond One Property
The investigation is now focusing on the wider alleged conspiracy — including who identified the property, who prepared the forged documents, who impersonated the deceased owners, how the sale proceeds were transferred and who ultimately benefited from the transaction.
Police are also examining whether the alleged modus operandi was limited to this particular property or whether other properties connected to Jewish families may have been targeted in a similar manner.
🟡 Parties Yet to Respond
Attempts were reportedly made to obtain the responses of Mojhes Alayza Jacob and Aslam Munshi regarding the allegations and their alleged roles in the transaction. No response was available at the time of reporting.
If their responses or statements become available, they should be considered as part of a fair and balanced account of the case.
🟡 Legal Position
The allegations against the accused are part of an ongoing police investigation and judicial proceedings. The allegations have not been proved in court, and all accused are entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.
The Panvel land fraud case is now under a wider investigation, with the alleged forged sale, impersonation, financial trail and the roles of the remaining accused at the centre of the probe.
