Mumbai Sessions Court Denies Bail To 2 Senior Citizens In Bandra Bungalow Case; Accused Of Usurping Property Using Forged Documents

Mumbai: The sessions court has refused to grant protection from arrest to two senior citizens booked in connection with a Bandra property allegedly usurped by them.

The accused are accused of forging records to show they worked as house help for the deceased owner, Leela Menon, claiming she sold the bungalow to them at a meagre rate in 1981.

The accused – Lallan Upadhyay, 61, and Dada Sarose, 62 – approached the court for anticipatory bail after they were booked on a complaint of forgery and cheating by Menon’s niece, Vijaylakshmi Jayantkumar.

As per the prosecution’s case, Vijayalakshmi, who has resided in the bungalow since 1971, said the property was purchased by her aunt from legendary singer Mohammed Rafi for Rs 3 lakh. Vijayalakshmi, along with her family, lived in the bungalow with Menon until her passing on February 26, 2022. After Menon’s death, Vijayalakshmi approached the Bombay High Court to probate her last will, wherein the property was bequeathed to her.

During the proceedings, it was revealed through land records that Menon had allegedly sold the property to Parvati Sarose and Ramdular Upadhyay – claimed to be her house helpers – for a mere Rs43,562.50 in 1981. This discovery prompted Vijayalakshmi to initiate an investigation by gathering records through a Right to Information application.

The details that emerged raised further suspicions. Vijaylakshmi came across two deeds, one of which stated that the deed would remain with Upadhyay, and possession of the property would only transfer to him upon Menon’s death.

The other document indicated that the property would be handed over after 33 years. In addition, Vijayalakshmi found several discrepancies in land records, including torn original records. Notably, the deed executed in 1981 was registered only in 2022, which raised further suspicion.

A forensic examination conducted by Indian Forensic Science confirmed that Menon’s signature on the disputed deed had been forged. The FIR also stated that Vijayalakshmi was shocked during a hearing at the city survey office upon realising that the property card had already been updated to include the names of Ramdular Upadhyay, Parvati Sarose, and a third person named Dada Sarose.