The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police has arrested 72-year-old Amina Usman Dada in an alleged property fraud case, involving a South Mumbai property valued at around ₹100 crore. The arrest came after she repeatedly failed to appear before the court, despite being summoned for hearings. According to police, 21 summons were issued to her, but she attended only one or two hearings, prompting the court to eventually issue a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against her.
The Arrest
An EOW team traced Amina to her residence in South Mumbai on Friday and executed the warrant. She was subsequently produced before the 47th Metropolitan Magistrate court, which remanded her to judicial custody. The police also submitted a report to the court regarding the execution of the warrant and her repeated absence from proceedings.
According to the EOW, Amina is one of five accused in this case. She is alleged to have acted in concert with her brothers to enter into a redevelopment arrangement involving a large jointly owned property in South Mumbai, without the knowledge of other co-owners. The accused face allegations including cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust, and criminal conspiracy.
How the Dispute Originated
The case originated from a property dispute involving three tenanted premises on Delai Road in Lower Parel. Complainant Ayaz Kapadia alleged that his relatives fraudulently claimed 100% ownership of the jointly held property, and subsequently entered into a redevelopment agreement with Big Tree Developers.
Investigators said the properties were jointly owned by the families of Kapadia's late father Jaffar and his uncle Latif. According to the investigation, Amina Usman held power of attorney and allegedly used this authority to sign the redevelopment agreement. She allegedly received around ₹3.5 crore under the arrangement and was also promised two flats.
A ₹100 Crore Property at the Centre of It All
The property involved in the dispute is estimated to be worth around ₹100 crore. The complainant has alleged that the redevelopment agreement was entered into without the knowledge or consent of other family members who had an interest in the jointly owned property. The dispute subsequently escalated into legal proceedings, with the redevelopment agreement now also being challenged before the Bombay High Court.
During the execution of the warrant, the EOW team informed Amina's 84-year-old husband, Usman Hasham Dada, who was present at the residence, about the court's order. Her lawyer was also informed about the execution of the warrant before she was taken into custody and produced before the court.
Others Named in the Case
The EOW has already taken action against other accused persons connected with this case. Abida Ismail was arrested from Mysore and is currently out on bail. Rahim Latif Kapadia, a UAE resident, was arrested on the basis of a Lookout Circular (LOC). Another accused, Malik Latif Kapadia, remains absconding, while a proclamation has been issued against Abdul Aziz Kapadia.
What Investigators Are Now Examining
The EOW is continuing its investigation into the ownership of the disputed properties, the use of the power of attorney, the redevelopment agreement, and the alleged ₹3.5 crore payment along with other financial transactions connected to the deal. This kind of detailed transaction verification is exactly where reliable auditing services in India prove essential, carefully tracing how power of attorney was used, how payments flowed, and whether the underlying agreements genuinely reflected the interests of all parties who actually held a stake in the property.
Investigators are also examining the individual roles of all the accused, and how the redevelopment agreement was executed despite allegations that other stakeholders were not informed or hadn't consented to the transaction.
FAQs
Q1. Why was Amina Usman Dada arrested despite being one of the accused?
She was arrested after repeatedly failing to appear before the court, missing 19 of 21 summons issued to her, which led to a non-bailable warrant being issued against her.
Q2. What is Amina Usman Dada alleged to have done in this property fraud case?
She allegedly used power of attorney to sign a redevelopment agreement for a jointly owned property without the knowledge of other co-owners, receiving around ₹3.5 crore and two flats in return.
Q3. What is the current status of the other accused in this case?
Abida Ismail is out on bail, Rahim Latif Kapadia was arrested via a Lookout Circular, Malik Latif Kapadia remains absconding, and a proclamation has been issued against Abdul Aziz Kapadia.