Rehan Khan
Morris Samuel Christian, a 37-year-old man, was arrested by Gujarat Police for allegedly running a fake court and issuing fraudulent orders in land disputes since 2019. Christian posed as a judge, operating a false arbitration tribunal and deceiving clients, particularly in the Gandhinagar area, by making them believe they were involved in legitimate court proceedings.
The scheme came to light when Hardik Desai, Registrar of Ahmedabad City Civil Court, filed a complaint after discovering that Christian had issued a fake court order related to a land dispute in Paldi. Babjuji Thakor, a client, presented a claim certificate fraudulently issued by Christian, falsely asserting rights over government land. Christian convinced his victims that he was an official arbitrator appointed by the government under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
Christian set up a mock courtroom in Gandhinagar where he conducted fake arbitration proceedings, with his associates posing as court personnel and lawyers. This elaborate setup fooled numerous individuals, who paid substantial fees for swift resolutions to their disputes. Christian always passed judgments in favor of his clients, furthering the deception.
The investigation revealed that in 2019, Christian issued a fraudulent order directing the district collector to add his client’s name to government land records. Following the complaint from Hardik Desai, an FIR was registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023 including Sections 170 (personating a public servant) and 419 (cheating by personation). Christian was arrested, and his fake tribunal was shut down.