An Ahmedabad builder has been booked after allegedly submitting a false affidavit to obtain non-agricultural (NA) status for land in Nikol, where an apartment project has already been constructed and more than 70% of residents are reportedly living. The case has raised concern among homebuyers whose flats stand on the disputed land.
According to a complaint filed by Ronak Patel, City Deputy Collector at the revenue office in Lal Darwaja, builder Nitin Prajapati submitted an affidavit concerning land identified by Survey Numbers 460 and 462(1). The affidavit reportedly stated that the land was in his possession and that no case relating to it was pending before any court or authority.
The complaint followed an application by a resident of Odhav, who alleged that the affidavit was false and submitted documents indicating that civil cases concerning the land were pending. The verification carried out after the application reportedly found that litigation relating to the property had not been disclosed in the affidavit.
Nikol police have registered a case alleging the submission of a fabricated affidavit and the creation of false evidence before government offices and the court. The report does not specify the sections of law invoked or whether any arrest has been made.
The disputed land has since been used for an apartment scheme, and more than 70% of the flats are reportedly occupied. This means the police case is not limited to a question of land records or the conduct of a developer; it may also affect residents who purchased homes in a project built on land whose legal status is now under scrutiny.
For buyers, the immediate concern is whether the land title, pending litigation and NA conversion documents were properly disclosed and verified before construction and sale. The report does not establish whether the apartment project had obtained all other required planning, building and occupancy approvals, nor does it state what action, if any, will be taken against the project or its residents.
The case also places attention on the administrative process through which land is converted for non-agricultural use. An affidavit submitted to the Collector’s office forms part of the documentation examined by revenue authorities, while disputes over ownership and title may continue before civil courts. When such information is allegedly withheld, the consequences can extend from the revenue record to construction, home sales and residents’ security of tenure.
The investigation is expected to examine the affidavit, the documents submitted by the Odhav resident, the status of the civil cases and the approvals connected with the apartment scheme. Further details will depend on the police inquiry and any subsequent action by the revenue and planning authorities.
