Cheating case against Praful Patel

A local court in MP has registered a case of cheating against Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and eight partners of his company in a land sale matter and asked them to be present before it on July 29.

In his order, Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Siraj Ali yesterday said, "Prima facie it appears that the accused had indulged in cheating and, therefore, cognisance against them is being taken under section 420 of the IPC."

The NCP leader's Chotta Bhai Jetha Bhai Patel and Company had allegedly sold 17,000 hectares of land to two different parties seven years ago in Betul, according to the complaint filed with the JMFC's court by one Navneet Garg.

The company sold the land situated on National Highway 69 to Garg on June 19, 2003 after selling the same to Ashok Dixit on June 11, 2003, he alleged, adding that the market value of the property was more than Rs two crore now. Garg said that he approached the JMFC after the police allegedly did not register a case against Patel and others.

Praful Patel, Arvind Bhai Patel, Harshad Patel, Dipak Patel, Kiran Patel, Shailesh Patel, Kaushal Patel, Ishwar Bhai Patel and Messr Chotta Bhai Jetha Bhai Patel and company have been made the parties in the case, he said.