Surat: The city's famous Contractor family has been embroiled in a dispute with a cheating and forgery case having been filed by one family member against another. The case involves two sons — Hemant and Kanaiya — of Lalbhai Contractor, who is a founding member of the Cricket Club of India, Mumbai.
Hemant's wife Nayna (64) has filed a cheating complaint against Hemant's elder brother, Kanaiya. The accused allegedly took a bank loan by mortgaging a family property using forged signatures of Nayna and Hemant, who were abroad when the loan was taken.
A cheating and forgery case under IPC Sections 420, 465, 467, and 471 has been filed at the DCB police station. Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) G A Sarvaiya said, "Nayana, Hemant and Kanaiya have a family property named RDS House in Surat. The property's value is around Rs 3 crore at present. The accused mortgaged this property in 2009 with Bajaj Finance Pvt Ltd and took a loan of Rs 2.92 crore."
Kanaiya produced a power of attorney in which the signatures of Nayna and Hemant were there. However, both were abroad when this power of attorney was executed.
"We have checked their passports and other documents and confirmed it. So, we have registered a forgery and cheating complaint. We are gathering evidence and have started legal proceedings against Kanaiya," said the ACP.
The family of Hemant discovered the alleged cheating when Bajaj Finance sent them a notice, as Kanaiya had failed to pay Rs 67 lakh out of the Rs 2.92 crore loan.
The Contractor family is a prominent family in Surat, having donated land for Lalbhai Contractor Cricket Stadium. Both Kanaiya and Hemant are sons of Lalbhai Contractor.
Hemant died in June this year. At the time of his death, he was the president of the Surat District Cricket Association (SDCA). Kanaiya Contractor has been serving as the mentor of SDCA for many years.
Hemant's family has alleged that it was due to Kanaiya's mistreatment that Hemant's health deteriorated, leading to his death.