A case involving the alleged illegal occupation of a mortgaged residential property has come to light in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district. Police have registered an FIR against a man accused of breaking official seals placed by a bank and forcibly reoccupying a property that had been taken into possession under recovery proceedings.

The complaint was filed by officials of Chhattisgarh Gramin Bank, who alleged that the accused twice broke the bank’s sealed locks and removed notices placed on the property. Authorities claim the actions interfered with the legal recovery process and caused financial losses to the bank.

The dispute is linked to a home loan of ₹26 lakh obtained by Mohammad Kasim Khan and Mohammad Naseem Khan. The borrowers had mortgaged a 1,200-square-foot residential property located in Subhash Nagar, Kasaridih, to secure the loan.

According to bank officials, following the death of Mohammad Kasim Khan, loan repayments were allegedly discontinued. As a result, the account was classified as a Non-Performing Asset (NPA), leading the bank to initiate recovery proceedings under the SARFAESI Act.

Property Sealed Twice

Officials stated that on March 21, 2025, the property was formally taken into possession and sealed in the presence of administrative officials and police personnel following an order issued by the District Magistrate.

However, the bank alleges that Kasim Khan’s son, Mohammad Wasim Khan, broke the lock on the same day and reoccupied the premises along with his family members.

Following complaints by the bank, authorities again took possession of the property on March 10, 2026, and sealed it under administrative supervision. Despite the second action, officials allege that the accused once again entered the property and resumed occupation.

E-Auction Process Delayed

The bank had initiated an e-auction process for the property on April 27, 2026, as part of loan recovery efforts. However, the auction was temporarily halted after the accused reportedly obtained interim relief from the Bilaspur High Court for a limited period.

Bank authorities stated that legal proceedings related to the property remain ongoing.

Inspection Reveals Irregularities

According to the complaint, a team led by the Regional Manager and NPA Manager visited the property on April 28, 2026. During the inspection, officials allegedly found that the bank’s sealed locks had been removed and replaced with different locks.

They also claimed that physical possession notices painted on the property walls had been erased through repainting and renovation work.

Local residents reportedly informed officials that the accused had re-entered the premises after removing the seals, though these claims remain part of the ongoing investigation.

Mutation Allegations Examined

The complaint further alleges that changes were made in revenue records relating to the mortgaged property. Bank officials have claimed that names were added or altered without obtaining the bank’s consent, despite the property being under mortgage.

Authorities are examining the relevant land and revenue documents as part of the investigation.

Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan and his wife Sophie Shine officially registered their marriage on Wednesday at the Registrar’s Office in Gurugram’s Vikas Sadan. The legal formalities came nearly two months after the couple held an intimate wedding ceremony in February.

Dhawan, dressed in a dark blue T-shirt and sunglasses, signed the documents alongside Sophie, who wore a light sky blue top. A handful of close associates accompanied the couple. Officials present at the registrar’s office confirmed the paperwork was completed without any ceremonial frills.

Low-key formalities at Vikas Sadan

The couple arrived discreetly at the government office in the morning. According to sources familiar with the matter, Dhawan and Sophie chose a weekday slot to avoid media attention. “They completed the signing in front of the marriage clerk and stayed for barely 15-20 minutes. Dhawan briefly chatted with some staff before leaving,” an official told reporters.

Unlike grand celebrity registrations, the former India opener kept the process minimal. Sophie, who hails from Ireland, remained by his side through the paperwork.

Wedding, engagement, and Chahal’s dance video

Dhawan proposed to Sophie on January 12 this year, announcing their engagement with an Instagram post: “Sharing everything from smiles to dreams. We are choosing each other’s company forever.” The couple then married on February 21 in a private ceremony.

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, a close friend of Dhawan, attended the wedding and posted a video of himself dancing to ‘Maujaan Hi Maujaan’, giving fans a rare glimpse of the celebration. Sophie had earlier been spotted supporting Dhawan during his Punjab Kings stint in the IPL.

Who is Sophie Shine?

Sophie originally comes from Ireland and was working in the UAE when she met Dhawan. Her LinkedIn profile shows she served as Second Vice President (Product Consultant) at Northern Trust Corporation, an American financial services firm. She studied Marketing and Management at Limerick Institute of Technology and completed her early education at Castleroy College. Sophie frequently appears in Dhawan’s Instagram reels, often featuring in light-hearted, funny skits.

Dhawan’s ₹69 crore Gurugram apartment

The registration comes weeks after Dhawan made a significant real estate move in the same city. In February 2025, he purchased a luxury apartment in DLF’s ultra-premium project ‘The Dahlias’ on Golf Course Road, Sector-54. The 6,040 sq ft unit reportedly cost around ₹69 crore, with the former cricketer paying nearly ₹4 crore in stamp duty alone. The apartment includes five car parking spaces and a private elevator, according to property registration documents.

Dhawan’s first marriage ended in 2023

Dhawan was previously married to Aesha Mukerji in 2011. The couple officially divorced in October 2023 after an 11-year relationship. Aesha has two daughters from an earlier marriage, and together with Dhawan, she has a son named Zoravar.

With his legal marriage now formalised and a new home secured in Gurugram, Dhawan appears to be settling into a new phase of life. Neither he nor Sophie has made any public statement about the registration, but sources close to the couple said they plan to continue splitting time between India and overseas commitments.

In a powerful display of vision, passion, and relentless commitment to the real estate ecosystem, Nikhil Shah has once again set a new benchmark by successfully curating and hosting the fifth consecutive edition of the Scale Up Summit of Exponential Real Estate World. Held in Andheri, Mumbai, the landmark gathering brought together leading architects, developers, entrepreneur-designers, social workers, and industry visionaries under one roof to forge meaningful collaborations and drive collective growth.

Widely regarded as the brainchild of Nikhil Shah, a seasoned expert in networking, consulting, and real estate ecosystem building, the summit has evolved into one of the most anticipated annual platforms for the industry. For five consecutive years, Shah’s unmatched energy, intent, and deep-rooted passion have transformed this event into a high-impact convergence point. What began as an initiative to connect stakeholders has now become a movement that addresses real, on-ground challenges while unlocking exponential opportunities for real estate developers and architects alike.

The fifth edition stood out for its groundbreaking novelty: a laser-focused agenda built around seven critical pain points faced by real estate developers and the architects’ community. Recognizing that these challenges , if left unaddressed, hinder growth and innovation, Nikhil Shah meticulously curated expert interventions to deliver practical, actionable solutions. 

The summit opened with a compelling keynote address by Mr. Pramod Rao, Promoter of ZICOM Ltd. and former founder of Gcoe Enterprises. He provided deep insights into the future of electronic security systems industry, India’s evolving surveillance regulations, AI-driven security solutions, data protection reforms, and the compliance landscape shaping the sector.

The event was flawlessly hosted by Tushar Vyas and Rajesh Oberoi, while the highlight of the day was an electrifying panel discussion moderated by veteran Mansoor Ali. With his vast knowledge, sharp wit, and engaging style, Mansoor kept the audience riveted as he steered a distinguished panel featuring Pramod Rao, Girish Wankhede,Dipti Khanna, Yogesh Wadhwana, Jitendra Mehta and Shilpa Balvally. The discussion delved into the real estate industry’s challenges amid the current geopolitical scenario, offering rich perspectives and real-world experiences.

A standout feature presentation was delivered by Renowned Trade Analyst and Public Relations( PR) Expert, Girish Wankhede, who captivated the audience with an in-depth session on the importance of brand building, creating a powerful digital footprint, and mastering crisis management in public relations. He elaborated on practical strategies for handling crises ;from fire incidents and disasters to negative publicity — empowering developers with tools to protect and enhance their reputation.
Further enriching the program, Advocate Roy Samuel shared inspiring success stories of recent positive judgments secured for developers, providing valuable legal clarity and confidence to the fraternity. Eminent designers and guests also graced the stage with insightful introductions, adding depth and diversity to the conversations.

The summit concluded on a high note with vibrant networking sessions and a delightful dinner, where participants continued discussing industry status, exchanging ideas, and brainstorming scalable solutions. The atmosphere was electric with optimism, collaboration, and a shared vision for the future.

Nikhil Shah’s extraordinary leadership, tireless curation, and ability to align diverse expertise around real pain points have once again proven why he remains the driving force behind this transformative platform. His efforts are not just events , they are catalysts for exponential growth, innovation, and unity in the real estate world.

About Nikhil Shah
A passionate networking and consulting professional, Nikhil Shah has dedicated years to empowering the real estate sector. Through the Scale Up Summit series, he continues to create high-value platforms that bridge gaps, solve pressing challenges, and accelerate industry progress.