Ponda, April 28, 2026:
A major land fraud case has surfaced in Bethora village of Ponda taluka, exposing an alleged nexus involving middlemen and officials linked to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department.

Ponda Police have arrested Ferdin Shaikh (40), a resident near Ponda Municipality, identified as a middleman in the case. The arrest comes following an investigation into alleged illegal land transactions carried out using forged documents.

According to police sources, the case pertains to a property admeasuring 55,700 square metres, where the accused allegedly misused a power of attorney granted by 33 co-owners. Fake No Objection Certificates (NOCs), purportedly issued by the TCP Department, were allegedly used to execute illegal sale deeds of ancestral and undivided property belonging to the Bethora communidade.

In connection with the same case, Manguirish Vernekar, then Deputy Town Planner, Ponda, has moved an anticipatory bail application before the District Court, fearing arrest.

During the probe, police have seized around 50 original sale deeds from the Sub-Registrar Office, Ponda, which were allegedly registered based on forged NOCs.

The FIR has been registered under Sections 420 (cheating), 465, 467, 468 (forgery-related offences), and 471 (use of forged documents), read with Section 34 of the IPC.

The complaint was filed by local resident Ucchari Gaude, who alleged that he was deprived of his lawful rights over the property due to the fraudulent activities.

Police investigations are ongoing, and further arrests in the case are likely.