Mumbai Builder Manoj Balwant Sawant Arrested in Land Scam
• Forged Documents and Illegal Construction Uncovered in Prime Mumbai Real Estate
• EOW Investigation Exposes Sophisticated ₹50 Crore Property Fraud Conspiracy
• Police Pursue Financial Trail and Co-Conspirators
Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has arrested builder Manoj Sawant for orchestrating a ₹50 crore Borivali land scam. Investigators allege Sawant used forged property deeds and fake official seals to illegally transfer prime land parcels. With his history of fraud cases resurfacing, the probe now focuses on financial trails and possible co-conspirators behind this high-stakes property racket.
Mumbai Builder Arrested in ₹50 Crore Borivali Land Scam; Forged Documents, Illegal Construction Uncovered
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police has arrested Thane-based builder Manoj Balwant Sawant, 56, for his alleged involvement in a sophisticated ₹50 crore land scam in Borivali. Sawant is accused of conspiring with associates to fabricate property documents, illegally seize a plot, and conduct unauthorized construction.
According to the FIR, the complaint was initially lodged by Malad (West) resident Alred Almeida, who reported a conspiracy that defrauded him over nearly two decades. The Sprouts News Investigation Team has confirmed that an FIR was officially registered on August 22, 2025, following a thorough verification process by the Bangur Nagar Police.
Investigations reveal the prime land at Valnai village, Borivali (Survey No. 36), was fraudulently acquired using forged seals and signatures to mimic a genuine property transfer deed. The accused then used these fabricated papers to secure illegal building permissions and commence construction. Several entities, including M/s Mural Builders and Developers and M/s Master Civil Construction, along with their partners and shareholders, are under scrutiny for their roles in this elaborate scheme.
Police sources indicate the property was originally owned by Balwant Nath Vishwanath, and the fraud involved manipulating records in his name.
Also Read: CIC Challenges Punjab & Sind Bank’s RTI Denial in ₹55Cr Fraud Case.
Police Custody Sought to Uncover Full Conspiracy and Financial Trail
The EOW has demanded police custody for the accused to pursue several critical investigative avenues. Key priorities include tracing and arresting other co-conspirators, seizing the original forged property agreement, and conducting a forensic audit of the accused's bank transactions to uncover the full financial trail.
Investigators are also focused on identifying the sources of the forged government seals and stamps and determining if more influential individuals masterminded the scam. Police officials have stated that this is a well-planned conspiracy, and further arrests are anticipated as the probe expands.
The case highlights systemic vulnerabilities in Mumbai's real estate sector, where forged documents and manipulation of land records lead to significant financial fraud. For policymakers and industry experts, it underscores the urgent need for digitized, transparent land registries and stronger verification protocols to prevent such scams. The ongoing investigation will be closely watched for its implications on real estate regulation and the prosecution of economic crimes in India.
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