RealEstate – Pune Police Register FIR Against Runwal Group MD in Land Case
RealEstate – Pune City Police have launched a formal investigation after registering a criminal case against Runwal Group Managing Director Subodh Runwal and six other individuals in connection with an alleged land ownership dispute linked to a prime property parcel in the Viman Nagar area.
Pune police officials confirmed on Thursday that the case was filed at Vimantal Police Station following directions issued by a local magistrate court. The FIR names Subodh Runwal along with Ashutosh N Navare, Lucy Roy Chowdhury, MB Agarwal and three additional persons under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to criminal conspiracy, forgery and other alleged offences.
Court Orders Police Investigation
The police action comes after Judicial Magistrate First Class Dr D R Dornalpalle passed an order on May 16 under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. The court instructed police authorities to formally register a First Information Report and carry out a detailed probe into the allegations raised by the complainants.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the dispute revolves around nearly 3.93 hectares of land situated in the Lohegaon and Viman Nagar region near Pune International Airport, an area that has witnessed rapid real estate development over the past several years.
Claims Linked to Earlier Development Agreement
As stated in the complaint, late businessman Satish Satyanarayan Mittal, through his firm Wonder Properties, had reportedly secured ownership and development rights over the land during 2005 and 2006.
The complaint further alleged that Wonder Properties later entered into a registered joint venture agreement in 2007 with Runwal Developers Pvt Ltd. Under this arrangement, an Association of Persons identified as Runwal Wonder Ventures was formed for the development of the property.
Documents cited in the complaint reportedly mention that Wonder Properties was entitled to receive 52 percent of the gross revenue generated from the project, while Runwal Developers would receive the remaining 48 percent share.
Allegations Raised After Mittal’s Death
The complainants have alleged that the original agreement clearly restricted the transfer or assignment of rights without written approval from Satish Mittal or his legal heirs.
Following Mittal’s death in January 2016, the legal heirs claimed that the Association of Persons was never officially restructured to include them. They further alleged that fabricated and back-dated documents were later prepared to transfer rights connected to the land and related entities without lawful approval.
The allegations have now become the central focus of the police investigation ordered by the court.
Magistrate Notes Delay in FIR Registration
During the proceedings, the magistrate court reportedly observed that the complainants had already submitted supporting material before police authorities, including witness statements, relevant documents and a site inspection report. Despite these submissions, no FIR had initially been registered.
The court also referred to the Supreme Court judgment in the Lalita Kumari versus Government of Uttar Pradesh case, which states that police are required to register an FIR when information presented discloses a cognisable offence.
Legal experts note that the ruling has often been cited in cases where complainants allege delay or refusal by police authorities to initiate criminal proceedings.
Police Continue Detailed Inquiry
Senior police officials said the investigation is currently in progress and further examination of financial records, agreements and supporting evidence will be carried out as part of the inquiry.
Authorities have not yet released additional details regarding possible summons or statements from the accused individuals. Police officials maintained that all aspects of the complaint would be examined during the course of the investigation.
Runwal Group has not publicly responded to the allegations so far.