Mumbai Police EOW Arrests Builder Manoj Balwant Sawant in ₹50Cr Borivali Land Scam.

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.

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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.

Unraveling a Web of Forgery and Conspiracy in Prime Mumbai Real Estate

The depth of the conspiracy points to a highly organized operation aimed at usurping high-value real estate in Mumbai. The accused allegedly created a forged document (BOM/S/1856/1979) complete with fake stamps from the Sub-Registrar’s office and signatures of the complainant and his relatives. This document was then used to fraudulently transfer the property title and manipulate official land records at the Goregaon Land Revenue Office and Borivali’s Sub-Registrar office.

The Sprouts SIT notes that such sophisticated forgery raises serious questions about potential insider involvement and the vulnerability of municipal record-keeping systems.

Sawant is not new to legal troubles, with a significant criminal record that underscores a pattern of alleged fraudulent activity. His previous charges include multiple cases registered at Naupada Police Station (CR No. 329/2016), Thane Nagar Police Station (CR No. 299/2016), and Nehru Nagar Police Station (CR No. 311/2011), all involving serious sections of the Indian Penal Code like 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), and 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating). This history suggests a repeated modus operandi targeting property documentation.

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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.