Miscreants destroy Nigdi home in property dispute

A group of 14 miscreants allegedly used an earthmover and other equipment to demolish the house of Amjadali R Shaikh (40), a scrap and timber merchant in Sindhunagar sector of Nigdi-Pradikaran area, on Sunday afternoon.

The attack on the property, on Survey number 25 in Sindhunagar, follows a property dispute between Shaikh and one Mahesh Deshpande, who has been accused of having masterminded the attack.

Shaikh filed a first information report (FIR) on Sunday at the Nigdi police station against Mahesh Deshpande, Dhotiram Balerao, Maruti Khandale, Appa Pawale and 10 others under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, which includes dacoity, causing grievous hurt and trespassing.

When DNA visited the site on Tuesday afternoon, Firdosh Tabassum Shaikh, the sister-in-law of Amjadali Shaikh, said she was alone at home with seven children when a mob of 10 men walked into the property with an earthmover.

“The men told us to vacate the house, abused and manhandled me and my children. Later, they drove the earthmover over our house. They also snatched my chain and, when I tried to inform my husband, they snatched my cellphone and destroyed our house. To remain safe, we locked ourselves in the garage till my husband and brother-in-law returned,” Firdosh said.

Recalling the incident, Shaikh said, “I was offering namaz when my family called me. I heard loud noises over the phone and rushed back home to find it being demolished before my eyes.” According to Shaikh, his family of 11 members had been living on the property since 1986.

“Our father purchased this property from one MV Krishnan for Rs6 lakh in cash, but the property was not transferred to us due to some Pradikaran law. Only two years ago, we began receiving electricity and water bills in one Deshpande’s name. Soon, the electricity board cut our power. When we inquired with the officials, they said that the owner of the property had directed them to do so. When we inquired about the owner’s identity, we were told that one Deshpande had purchased the property from Krishnan’s son. We have filed a civil suit in the court in this matter. Our power supply has been cut for the last two years. We have been using a generator every day. Now the suspects have left us with a house without a roof.”

Senior inspector NS Bhosale-Patil of the Nigdi police station told DNA, “There is a dispute between Shaikh and Deshpande. We arrested eight suspects, including Mahesh Deshpande, Dhotiram Balerao, Maruti Khandale and Appa Pawale the same day and remanded them in police custody till Thursday. The area is very tense and hence we have provided security to both families.”

One of Deshpande’s family members told DNA on condition of anonymity, “Mahesh Deshpande is being falsely implicated in this case. The property belongs to us and we have the relevant papers.’’