After Sambhal, Varanasi, and Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, a long-closed temple was reopened in Gujarat’s Dwarka. In the Khambalia area of Dwarka district, the Santoshi Mata Temple, shut for nearly 50 years, was inaccessible due to allegations that individuals named Hanif, Suleman, Ghafar, Abbas, and Omar had blocked the road leading to the Hindu temple.
Upon receiving the complaint, the Dwarka Police registered an FIR under relevant sections. Acting on the instructions of District Police Chief Nitesh Pandey, the illegal encroachment was removed on December 18. Following the demolition, members of the Hindu community were permitted to resume Pooja rituals at the temple.
(Images via IndiaTV, VTV Gujarati)
The police action was initiated after a complaint was lodged by the temple priest’s family at the Khambalia police station. A detailed investigation revealed that the accused had allegedly forged documents to encroach upon government land. Of the five accused, three were arrested, while the remaining two had reportedly passed away.
Posting on X, Gujarat state Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi shared details about the actions taken in the matter and stated, “50-year-old Santoshi Mata temple in Khambalia, Dwarka, was blocked by Hanif Suleman, Gafar and Umar. Police took Swift action an FIR was filed, and the encroachment cleared!”
How Was the Land Acquired Using Forged Documents?
An investigation by OpIndia uncovered that the land in question had been government-owned for years, but the offenders conspired to fabricate fake documents. These documents falsely claimed that Maharaja Jamsaheb of Nawanagar had registered the land in the name of Dhanji Dalwadi, who allegedly sold it to Kasam Khafi in 1959. Over time, additional names were added to the ownership records, citing inheritance based on the forged documents. Eventually, in 2021, the land was purchased by an individual named Hussain Bhokal.
Records from the Jamnagar Archives Office indicate that the original 1919 documents from the then Maharaja of Jamnagar listed Bhatia Damodar Kalyan as the rightful owner. There was no mention of Dalwadi Dhanjibhai in article number 665. However, in 1959, a document surfaced, alleging that Dhanjibhai had sold the land to Kasam Merubhai Khafi. The complainant pointed out discrepancies, such as the existence of a lawyer mentioned as a witness on page 4 of the document, who could not be verified. Additionally, the document claimed registration at the sub-registrar's office, but no such record was found upon verification.
In 1998, Kasam Khafi’s heirs applied to have their names listed as successors, relying on the same fraudulent document. However, the City Survey Superintendent declared the land to be government property. Despite this, Kasam’s descendants contested the decision in the Deputy Collector’s Court in 2005. The Deputy Collector ultimately reaffirmed the Superintendent’s ruling and directed action in accordance with the law.
Subsequent investigations upheld the earlier decision that the land belonged to the government. However, Hanif, in collusion with a Municipal Survey Officer, reopened the case and manipulated records to list Kasam Khafi as the owner without submitting an application to the District Collector. The accused then finalized the sale of the land to Hussain Bhokal in 2021.
Temple Path Reopened After Years: Priest Expresses Satisfaction
Hiren Goswami, the temple priest, also spoke to OpIndia about the case. He revealed that the accused had constructed a wall to deliberately obstruct access to the temple, which left the path blocked for years. He further noted that the route became so challenging that even elderly individuals struggled to reach the temple, let alone any vehicles. “When we asked the encroachers, we were told that they have the documents. However, it was found that the documents were forged and the persons mentioned in them were non-existent after a probe. We then approached the District Police Chief. When he investigated himself, the whole truth came out. Administration has now opened the road,” he expressed. He expressed his satisfaction with the action, noting that the temple road is now open, and extended his gratitude to the police.
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