A 50-year-old builder in Ahmedabad’s Shah Alam area died by suicide on October 10 after his family alleged prolonged harassment over a land transaction, demands for an additional Rs 2 crore and recovery of high-interest loans. Danilimda police have registered a case against four people, including the landowner and alleged moneylenders, and begun an investigation.
The complaint was filed by the deceased builder’s son, Abdulhamid Arif Qureshi. According to the report filed by Gujarat Samachar, the family has alleged abetment to suicide and violations of the Gujarat Money-Lending Act against the accused. The allegations have not been tested in court.
The deceased, identified as Arif Qureshi, lived in Kirti Kunj Society in Shah Alam and was engaged in building construction. The complaint states that he had purchased approximately 275 var of land at Patel’s Maidan near Sikandar Market in Danilimda village in September 2022 for Rs 1.64 crore. He later acquired rights over additional parcels of land in parts.
The family has alleged that the landowner executed a power of attorney for around 1,500 var of land, but did not complete the documentation or execute the power of attorney for another approximately 700 var, even after the money for that portion had allegedly been paid. The complaint further alleges that, after land prices increased, an additional Rs 2 crore was demanded for executing the remaining documents. Qureshi was allegedly threatened with the demolition of flats if the money was not paid and was called to an office, assaulted and humiliated, according to the complaint.
The complaint also refers to loans that Qureshi allegedly took while trying to arrange money. It states that an acquaintance arranged a loan of Rs 20 lakh from his son at an interest rate of 30 per cent. Although the family claims that Rs 20 lakh, including interest, had been repaid by 2025, further demands for money allegedly continued. Another Rs 15 lakh was allegedly arranged from a relative on the condition that daily interest of Rs 15,000 would be paid.
The family has also alleged threats against Qureshi and his relatives. According to the complaint, on September 23, the deceased and his son were stopped while travelling near the Sabarmati Riverfront and the son was allegedly threatened with death. The complaint further alleges that two people visited the family’s home around two months earlier, threatened female family members and locked them inside the house.
Police records, as described in the report, say that Qureshi was found hanging at his home at around 3 pm on October 10. Danilimda police have registered the case under provisions relating to abetment to suicide and the Gujarat Money-Lending Act. The investigation will determine the sequence of the land payments, documentation, loan transactions, threats and the responsibility of each accused person.
