How Riyasat Group MD Sumer Singh Saini Allegedly Built a 3-Village Township on Benami Land, Evaded Tax via Rs.1.51 Cr Structuring, and Secured 107-Tree Cutting NOC Without EC — With 7 Suppressed Files (C/125, C/132, C/133, C/1699) Proving MSRDC Officers Suppressed C/64 Onwards
SUB-HEADLINE:
Ground investigation by The Media Foundation reveals alleged benami land aggregation via Atul Bhatia front, secret transfer to Riyasat Infra Developers Pvt Ltd without registered POA, smurfing of development charges in Rs.50k fragments, and marketing as ‘100% MSRDC Sanctioned’ despite no final sanction letter with seal, no CC, no NA Order on record.
DATELINE: Navi Mumbai / Khalapur (Raigad) | 22.08.2026 | By Brahmanand R. Tiwari, Managing Director & Editor-in-Chief, The Media Foundation / EX7 News
Navi Mumbai: In a major investigative breakthrough, The Media Foundation / EX7 News has accessed 7 files totalling 187 pages pertaining to MSRDC Special Planning Authority (SPA) File No. BP-542 for Village Nadhal (Census 553699), Takegaon (553696) and Panshil, Taluka Khalapur, District Raigad.
The documents, bearing page markings C/1-C/63, C/125, C/132, C/133, C/1699, were obtained through a combination of RTI and ground field verification.
The investigation points to a multi-crore organized scam allegedly masterminded by Mr. Sumer Singh Saini, Founder, Owner and Managing Director, Riyasat Infra Developers Private Limited (Riyasat Group), Centre Point, Pakhse, Panvel, who is named as Main Accused No.1 in complaints filed with ACB Raigad, Enforcement Directorate (ED) Mumbai, Income Tax Investigation Mumbai, CVO & MD MSRDC, and Chief Planner & Director, SPA, MSRDC, Shri Sunil Marale.
His alleged associates are Mr. Pushpendra Kumar Saini (Agent/Relative, Centre Point, Pakhse – Accused No.3) and Mr. Atul Swadeshpal Bhatia (174, Namil Niwas, 91 D Desai Road, Tata Garden, Breach Candy, Mumbai – Benamidar – Accused No.2).
THE CORE ALLEGATION: 1 VILLAGE TO 3 VILLAGES WITHOUT FRESH APPLICATION
As per initial application Inward No.939 dated 31.03.2023 (Annexure-A – C/1-C/63), the project was for Village Nadhal Survey Nos. 145/4, 146/2, 146/6/3A, 147, 150/3, 152, 153 etc. The applicant was Atul Bhatia, architect M/s 7 Arch Associates (Pranay Pashilkar, Karanjade) and structural engineer Er. Rutvij Patel, Registration No. CARPC/R/2020/APL/00415, whose license as per page C/31-C/40 was valid only upto 31-12-2023.
However, two more villages were allegedly added clandestinely:
• Annexure-E – C/1699 dated 12/12/2024: 7/12 extract of Village Takegaon Bhumapan No. 51/5 area 0.16.00, PU-ID 38898920057, with Ferfar No.1491 dated 30/12/2023, showing 7 joint holders and fallow land status, downloaded on 12/12/2024 from Gram Mahasul Adhikari, Vasambe. Survey Nos. 51/9 (0.20.00), 51/8 (22.21.00 + 0.6000), 52/1 (2.54.00), 51/5 (0.16.00) – total 107 trees area. • Annexure-F – C/132 & C/133: Search Report & Title Certificate for Village Panshil Survey No.70/3/A/1 and 90, Tal Khalapur – marking C/132 and C/133, proving inclusion of a third village.
With three villages, the total layout area exceeds 50,000 sqm, which under EIA Notification 2006 mandates Environment Clearance (EC) from SEIAA. No EC is on record.
BENAMI LAYER: HOW SUMER SINGH SAINI ALLEGEDLY USED ATUL BHATIA AS FRONT
Annexure-A shows Ferfar No.2339 of March 2023 mutating all Nadhal lands in name of Atul Bhatia, just 10 days before Inward 939 dated 31.03.2023. Bhatia, a resident of Breach Candy, Mumbai, has no agricultural connection to Khalapur.
Annexure-B (20 pages) – Search Report & Title Certificate for 146/6/A and 152/1 Nadhal confirms title in name of Bhatia and explicitly shows NO Development Agreement, POA, or Sale Deed with Riyasat Group. Legally, Bhatia continues to be owner.
Despite this, Annexure-D – Receipt dated 03.11.2023 for Rs.50,000 (mentioned as Rs.50 Lakh in words – alleged cash book manipulation) is in name of M/s Riyasat Infra Developers Pvt Ltd for 146/1/1 Nadhal, and Annexure-G – C/125 – Letter No. Vanagam/1173/2023-24 dated 16/02/2024 from Parikshetra Vanadhikari, Panvel (Ph. Chapha, Forest Colony) shows application dated 12.02.2024 by Pushpendra Kumar Saini for Riyasat Infra Developers Pvt Ltd for cutting 107 Halalya (Kembhuka) trees at Takegaon under Section 25(2) of Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, Amendment 2017 (No. MIS-40/2017/C.R.243/ch).
The permission was granted with 4 conditions: (1) No cutting of protected species Sag, Hirda, Moha, Aamba, Kher, Chandan, Bija, Tivar, Raan, Kinjal, Anjan, Jambul etc, (2) No cutting within 30 meters of any living water body, (3) Double plantation in monsoon 2024, (4) No cutting of trees in other areas.
This proves alleged secret transfer of title from individual (Bhatia) to Pvt Ltd company controlled by Sumer Singh Saini without registered document – attracting Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 Section 3 and PMLA Section 3 as proceeds of crime.
Under PMLA Section 2(1)(u) and Benami Act Section 2(8), Managing Director Sumer Singh Saini is the beneficial owner and ultimate beneficiary.
TAX EVASION VIA STRUCTURING: RS.1.51 CRORE IN 50K FRAGMENTS
Annexure-D – Inward No.4131 dated 11.12.2023 enclosing Letter No.MSRDC/SPA/BP-542/Layout Approval/2023/2019 states payment of Rs.1,51,33,950/- as development charges.
The payment was made through 5 UTRs: Rs.50,000 + Rs.50,000 on 09/12/2023 and Rs.1,35,000 + Rs.50,000 + Rs.50,000 on 10/12/2023. This pattern of breaking large payment into Rs.50,000 fragments is termed Smurfing/Structuring to evade reporting thresholds under Income Tax Act Section 269ST (Rs.2 lakh limit), Section 40A(3), and Section 269SS/ST.
One receipt allegedly shows Rs.50,000 in figures but “Fifty Lakh” in words, indicating alleged manipulation. No Capital Gains Tax is shown to have been paid by Bhatia on transfer to Pvt Ltd, and no disclosure of source in balance sheet of Riyasat Pvt Ltd – attracting IT Act Section 68 (Unexplained Cash Credit) and 69 (Unexplained Investment).
CORRUPTION BY MSRDC OFFICERS: SUPPRESSION OF C/64 ONWARDS
MSRDC SPA, Belapur in response to RTI provided only C/1 to C/63. However, EX7 News possesses:
• C/125 dated 16/02/2024 – Forest NOC for 107 trees • C/132 & C/133 – Panshil Search Report • C/1699 dated 12/12/2024 – Takegaon 7/12
This proves file exists at least till C/200, and C/64 onwards – the Decision Part containing notings, scrutiny report, inspection report, movement register, sanction letter – has been suppressed, violating RTI Act Section 7(1) and 7(6) which mandates free supply after 30 days.
Other alleged irregularities:
• Annexure-C – Inward No.2641 dated 25.07.2023 (30 pages): Covering letter says “Enclosing Challan NOC Letter (Road NOC Relaxed)” and Bhatia’s letter says “Please allow us for getting approval of Final Layout for Residential Purpose Subject to Final NH NOC”. Final layout approval cannot be granted on “Subject to Final NH NOC” basis under MRTP Act Section 45. Road NOC Relaxed is not Final NOC. • Expired Engineer License: Er. Rutvij Patel’s license expired on 31-12-2023 (C/31-C/40), yet his supervision certificate was used for Van NOC on 16/02/2024 and Takegaon 7/12 on 12/12/2024 – violation of Council of Architecture norms. • No EC, No CC, No NA Order: Despite >50,000 sqm area and 107 tree cutting, no EC from SEIAA, no CRZ NOC, no Commencement Certificate under MRTP Sec 45, no NA Order under MLRC Sec 44 on record.
Despite this, on ground the project is marketed as “100% MSRDC Sanctioned Layout – Riyasat Group”, with boards, brochures, and online ads, allegedly cheating flat buyers under IPC 420, 467, 468, 471, 120B, MOFA and RERA Act.
LEGAL SECTIONS ATTRACTED AGAINST SUMER SINGH SAINI:
Benami Act 1988 Sec 3, PMLA Sec 3 & 4 (Money Laundering via benami & smurfing), Income Tax Act Sec 68,69,40A(3),269SS,269ST,269T, MRTP Act Sec 43,45,52,53 (Illegal Development), MLRC Sec 25(2),44, EIA Notification 2006, Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 (107 trees), IPC 420,467,468,471,120B, Prevention of Corruption Act Sec 7,8,12,13(1)(d),13(2) (Abetment).
PRAYER IN COMPLAINTS FILED:
EX7 News has filed complaints with:
1. ACB Raigad: FIR under PC Act against SPA officers for Inward 939,2641,4131, C/125,132,133,1699 for suppression, approval on relaxed NOC & expired license after alleged bribe. 2. ED Mumbai: ECIR under PMLA Sec 3 against Sumer Singh Saini for laundering via benami transfer Bhatia to Riyasat Pvt Ltd and structuring Rs.1.51 Cr, and attachment of Survey Nos.
146/1,2,4,5,6,152/1,2,159/2 (Nadhal) + 51/5,51/8,51/9,52/1 (Takegaon) + 70/3/A/1,90 (Panshil) as Proceeds of Crime Sec 5 PMLA. 3. Income Tax (Inv) Mumbai: Probe Benami Act & Sec 68,69 for unexplained investment, capital gains evasion, 50k to 50 Lakh manipulation. 4. MSRDC Vigilance & Chief Planner Shri Sunil Marale: Preserve entire file C/1 to last and supply free u/s 7(6) RTI 14 documents including Final sanction with seal for 3 villages, CC, NA Order, notings, scrutiny, inspection with photos, movement register, Development Agreement/POA/Sale Deed between Bhatia and Riyasat Pvt Ltd via Saini, final NH NOC, EC/CRZ/Forest compliance for 107 trees, bifurcation of Rs.1,51,33,950, inclusion order for Panshil & Takegaon, challan Rs.10,000 receipt, 5-year title chain before Ferfar 2339 & 1491.
QUOTE FROM EDITOR:
Brahmanand R. Tiwari, MD & Editor-in-Chief, The Media Foundation / EX7 News said: “This is not a single plot matter. It is a 3-village township >50,000 sqm where file C/64 onwards is suppressed to hide benami transfer from Atul Bhatia to Riyasat Infra Developers Pvt Ltd controlled by Sumer Singh Saini.
Payment of Rs.1.51 Cr in 50k fragments, receipt showing 50k as 50 Lakh, 107-tree cutting NOC without EC, and approval on relaxed NOC with expired engineer license points to deep-rooted corruption. If one BP-542 file has this, how many such files exist in SPA? We have sought ATR in 7 days failing which PIL in Bombay High Court and complaint to Lokayukta will be filed.”
DISCLAIMER: The allegations are based on 7 files (187 pages) in possession of EX7 News. The accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty by competent court. EX7 News has sent detailed questionnaire to Mr. Sumer Singh Saini, MD, Riyasat Group and PIO, SPA, MSRDC for their version. Their response will be published as and when received.
