Ahmedabad:

Police have uncovered a nefarious scheme orchestrated by a man masquerading as a judge in his own fake tribunal and passing ‘judgements’ since 2019 especially in land deals in Gandhinagar area. Morris Samuel Christian, since arrested, is accused of orchestrating a deception that fooled many into believing they were in a legitimate court.

Police said Christian, the mastermind behind this elaborate ruse, wielded his gavel to pass judgments in favour of his clients, all within the fabricated walls of his office.

The bogus tribunal, reminiscent of a real courtroom, worked undetected for years, with its roots tracing back to as early as 2019.

Initial probe suggested that Christian preyed on unsuspecting individuals entangled in land disputes, promising swift resolutions in exchange for hefty fees.

By assuming the role of a judge, he exploited the vulnerable, manipulating the course of justice for personal gain.

The elaborate charade involved Christian’s associates posing as court personnel, creating a facade of authenticity to dupe his clients.

The elaborate theatrics, complete with a mock courtroom setting in Gandhinagar, lent an air of legitimacy to his deceitful proceedings.

In 2019, Christian passed an order in favour of his client using the same modus operandi. The case was pertaining to a government land under the district collector while his client had staked claim on it and wanted to add his name in revenue records related to the plot in question located in Paldi area, a police release said on Monday.

Without an authority or order issued by any court under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Christian told his client he has been appointed as the “official arbitrator” by the government.

The conman then initiated fake proceedings at his ‘court’ and passed an order in favour of his client, directing the collector to add his client’s name in the revenue records of that land, the release said.

To implement the order, Christian, through another lawyer, filed an appeal in the city civil court and attached the fraudulent order passed by him.

The court registrar, Hardik Desai, recently found out that Christian is neither an arbitrator nor is the order of the tribunal genuine.

Following his complaint, the Karanj police here lodged an FIR under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 170 (pretending to hold any office as a public servant) and 419 (cheating by personation).

The conman was arrested for allegedly cheating people by posing as a judge of an arbitral tribunal and passing favourable orders claiming he has been appointed as an arbitrator by a competent court to adjudicate legal disputes, the release said.

The accused is already facing a cheating complaint filed at the city’s Maninagar police station in 2015, it added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court has directed the court’s registrar to lodge a police complaint after taking note of an internal inquiry report which said one of its orders, which was annexed with a pending petition, was fabricated.

A bench comprising justices A S Oka and Pankaj Mithal perused the report of the Registrar (Judicial Listing) and said it was “obvious” that the document purported to be a copy of an order of this court was “fabricated”.

“Therefore, the Registrar (Judicial Listing) must set the criminal law in motion by lodging a complaint with the jurisdictional police station,” the bench said on Tuesday.

It directed the officer in-charge of the police station concerned to submit a report to the court about the investigation within two months.

The court, which had earlier issued notices to the advocates concerned, noted, “Though notice was issued to Prity Mishra, advocate for examining her role, she has chosen not to appear before this court today.” It is for the police to examine the role allegedly played by the advocate, it said, adding the apex court registrar shall also submit a copy of its order along with the annexures to police.

The bench has fixed the case for considering the police report on December 1.

Earlier, the apex court had ordered an internal inquiry after noticing that two different orders, passed by the same bench in a matter, were filed with a petition.

“The first order is of dismissal and the second order is of allowing the SLP. We direct the Registrar (Judicial) to hold an inquiry into this aspect and submit a report to this court by September 20, 2023. If the Registrar (Judicial) finds that this is a case of fabrication of orders of this court, it follows that the criminal law will have to be set in motion,” the bench had said in its August 22 order.

It had issued notices to lawyers concerned – Mishra and Aftab Ali Khan – and complainant Lokesh Madanmohan Agarwal.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)