The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai is likely to summon a Maharashtra-cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in connection with the alleged Rs 200-crore fraud case of counterfeiting government documents, forging Transferable Development Rights (TDR) involving her husband, Purshottam Chavan. According to the officials the questioning is expected to be part of the preliminary inquiry (PE) initiated in the case.
According to senior EOW officials, investigators are conducting a thorough examination of banking transactions linked to Purshottam Chavan. It is alleged that Chavan defrauded several individuals, collecting large sums of money from victims through both cash and banking channels. These funds have been identified as proceeds of crime, amounting to approximately Rs 200 crore. The primary objective of the investigation is to trace the transactions and money trail to determine if any portion of the proceeds of crime was transferred to the IPS officer’s accounts. The EOW continues to analyze the financial trail and compile evidence from the preliminary inquiry.
During the preliminary inquiry (PE), statements from several victims were recorded. They claimed that in 2017-18, while the IPS officer was stationed in Thane, they visited her Thane residential premises multiple times. During these visits, the IPS officer was often present. On Purshottam’s instructions, the victims filled out forms at her residence to apply for flats under the Urban Development Department’s quota. It is alleged that after her transfer to Mumbai, several meetings and paperwork sessions regarding the approval of flats under the government quota of the Urban Development Department were conducted at her official residence in Colaba.
Sources have revealed that victims have accused Purshottam Chavan of leveraging his wife’s official vehicle for property transactions.He allegedly took victims to various locations, including the Thane registration office, to register property under the Urban Development Department’s reserve quota. He also visited several land parcels to show them, claiming to provide TDRs. During these visits, the victims traveled in the IPS officer’s car, which had a red beacon, accompanied by the officer’s staff members and orderlies..
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a supplementary chargesheet against six accused in the ongoing Rs 263 crore TDS refund fraud case, which includes statements from two Mumbai police personnel who served as orderlies at the IPS officer’s residence. Their testimonies confirm that they collected items like a carton box, a red backpack, and two trolley bags on Chavan’s behalf from another accused, Rajesh Batreja. One constable also noted frequent visits by Batreja to the residence between August and March 2024, and the handling of documents and a pen drive at Chavan’s instruction from Mulund Railway Station.
Victims further testified that after chavan arrests, they met with the IPS officer at her office During the meeting,and several calls they were assured that the issues related to the flats or properties handled by Purshottam Chavan would be resolved soon and that no one would face any losses. They were also told that once Purshottam Chavan was granted bail, all the problems would be sorted out.Chavan is currently in judicial custody, and his bail application grounds of a health issue was recently rejected by the Special PMLA court.The court observed that there was no evidence of a life-threatening illness or inadequate mental health treatment.
The officer has not yet been named as an accused, and her role in the alleged fraud is under investigation. Further developments are awaited as the inquiry progresses.
