Adivasi Farmer Alleges ₹50 Lakh Fraud in Vadhavan Port Compensation Payout

A criminal investigation has been launched in Maharashtra’s Palghar district after an Adivasi farmer alleged that over ₹50.27 lakh was fraudulently withdrawn from his compensation funds linked to the Vadhavan Port land acquisition project. The case has raised serious concerns about financial exploitation of tribal landowners during large infrastructure compensation processes.

According to the complaint, the farmer was originally entitled to approximately ₹2.93 crore for land acquired in Tawa village in the Dahanu region, covering nearly 2.30 hectares.

Allegation of Trust-Based Fraud and Document Manipulation

Police officials stated that the complainant, Kiran Palwa, has named three individuals — Suraj Gimbhal, Dharma Valvi, and Prasad alias Monty Patil — accusing them of deceiving him under the pretext of helping speed up the compensation process.

The accused allegedly gained his trust and assisted him in banking-related formalities. Investigators believe the group may have exploited his limited familiarity with financial documentation and digital banking procedures.

The complaint further alleges that during a visit to a private bank branch in Boisar in April, the farmer was made to sign multiple documents and provide thumb impressions. It is suspected that during this process, critical account-linked details such as the registered mobile number and email ID were changed without his full understanding.

₹50.27 Lakh Withdrawn Through Multiple Transactions

Authorities report that after the compensation amount was credited, ₹50,27,670 was withdrawn from the account through a series of transactions.

Preliminary findings suggest that parts of the withdrawn funds may have been used for purchasing valuables and consumer goods, including gold ornaments and clothing. However, investigators have clarified that these observations are still under verification and no final conclusions have been drawn.

A major concern in the case is that the complainant reportedly remained unaware of the credited compensation for several months. Due to the alleged change in contact details linked to his account, he did not receive transaction alerts or bank notifications, allowing the withdrawals to go unnoticed.

Investigation Focused on Banking Trail and Accountability Gaps

The fraud was uncovered after authorities examined account activity records and transaction histories. The case has triggered wider concern among tribal communities, many of whom depend on land acquisition compensation linked to infrastructure projects like the Vadhavan Port development.

Community members and local observers have raised questions about the role of intermediaries in facilitating compensation-related banking processes, calling for stricter safeguards and transparent verification mechanisms.

Financial crime experts note that altering registered mobile numbers and email IDs remains a common tactic in banking fraud cases, as it blocks transaction alerts and delays detection of unauthorized activity.

Police Expanding Probe into Money Trail

Investigators are now scrutinizing banking records, account modification logs, and transaction trails to determine how the funds were diverted and who ultimately benefited from the alleged scheme.

Authorities say the probe is ongoing and will focus on identifying all individuals involved in the suspected fraud network, as well as tracking the end use of the misappropriated money.