NEW DELHI: A man accused posing as a judge and running a fake court in India was arrested on Wednesday (Oct 23).
Identified as Morris Samuel Christian (pic), the suspect allegedly delivered an order involving a land dispute in the western state of Gujarat in India.
The sham was revealed after a police complaint was filed and the dispute case was brought in for a hearing at the Ahmedabad City Civil Court, reported Indian news outlet India Today.
It added that Christian had set up a fake mediation centre in the city and issued an order on government land while pretending to be a judge.
The local police said that Christian had associates who helped create the impression of a genuine court by pretending to be court personnel.
He had been holding the fake court and passing “judgments” since 2019, according to the police. Most cases he handled involved land deals in the city of Gandhinagar.
Christian is accused of fooling many into assuming they were fighting their cases in a legitimate court.
His victims were unwitting people entangled in land disputes, whom he had promised swift resolutions in return for hefty fees. He allegedly delivered all his verdicts in favour of these clients.
In 2019, Christian issued a verdict in favour of his client. The case involved a plot of government land in the Paldi area which his client had laid claim to, wanting to add his name to revenue records.
Despite not having an official order, Christian tricked his client into believing that he was appointed as the “official arbitrator” by the government.
Police investigations are ongoing. - The Straits Times/ANN
