Pune Magistrate court on May 16 had directed Vimantal Police Station to immediately register an FIR against Runwal Group MD Subodh Subhash Runwal, Ashutosh Navare, Lucy Roy Choudhary, M.B. Agarwal & Co. and other unknown persons in connection with a major land dispute involving allegations of cheating, forgery, criminal trespass, conspiracy and organised crime. Its been almost ten days, but the cops have failed to file a FIR against the accused.
The order was passed on May 16, 2026, by Judicial Magistrate First Class Dr. D.R. Dornalpalle in Criminal Miscellaneous Application No. 3237/2026. Exercising powers under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the court held that a clear prima facie case of cognisable offences was made out and directed police to conduct a full investigation.
The court observed that despite detailed complaints, recorded statements and a site panchnama, police had failed to register an FIR. Relying on the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in Lalita Kumari vs Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, the magistrate reiterated that registration of an FIR is mandatory when cognisable offences are disclosed.
Complainant Ranjeet Ashok Darak, Designated Partner, Bridge Water Realty LLP, said,
“I failed to understand the reason for cops not following the court order and filing a FIR. Powerful builders attempt to illegally grab our lawfully acquired rights through forgery and trespass have been exposed. The standard operating procedure is file a FIR post court order.”
In such instance, cops file a FIR and conduct the investigation. According to the sources, no such inquiry is conducted and cops have not taken any action against the accused person.
The dispute relates to a prime 3.93-hectare land parcel at Survey No. 214/2 in Lohegaon/Viman Nagar near Pune International Airport. According to the complaint, late Satish Satyanarayan Mittal, through Wonder Properties, had acquired ownership and development rights over the land in 2005-06.
In 2007, Wonder Properties entered into a registered joint venture agreement with Runwal Developers Pvt. Ltd. to form an AOP named Runwal Wonder Ventures, with Wonder Properties entitled to 52% of gross revenue and Runwal Developers to 48%. The agreement reportedly barred transfer or assignment of rights without written consent from Satish Mittal or his legal heirs.
After Mittal’s death in January 2016, the complainants alleged that the AOP was never legally reconstituted with the heirs and that forged and back-dated documents were later created to illegally transfer rights to related entities. The complaint further alleged that Bridge Water Realty LLP, which acquired 80% rights from Mittal’s legal heirs through a registered deed in February 2021, was in lawful possession of the property when attempts were made to unlawfully interfere with its rights and possession.
The complaint also alleged removal of Bridge Water Realty LLP’s signboard from the property and violation of existing court directions. After police allegedly failed to act on complaints filed in January and March 2026, the complainants approached the magistrate court seeking directions for FIR registration.
The court also pulled up the Pune Police for failing to register an FIR despite the complaint having been pending for over five months. The complainant further raised serious questions over the role and conduct of the police in handling the matter.
Earlier this year, the Pune District Court, while hearing proceedings under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, had observed that rights in the AOP devolved upon Mittal’s legal heirs after his death and prima facie recognised Bridge Water Realty LLP’s lawful possession based on revenue records and utility bills.
Subsequently, in March 2026, the Bombay High Court directed all
parties to maintain status quo over the property pending final adjudication of the dispute, while keeping all contentions open.
The criminal investigation ordered by the magistrate court will proceed alongside the ongoing civil and arbitration proceedings concerning the disputed land parcel.
