Ahmedabad, Oct 23:  Police in Gujarat have uncovered a fraudulent operation run by Morris Samuel Christian, who impersonated a judge in a fake tribunal, issuing bogus judgments since 2019, particularly related to land disputes. Christian has been arrested and is accused of misleading numerous individuals into thinking they were in an authentic court.

Investigations revealed that Christian, the architect of this elaborate scam, held proceedings in a simulated courtroom environment, rendering decisions that favored his clients. This sham tribunal operated without detection for years, dating back to 2019.

Christian specifically targeted unsuspecting victims caught in land disputes, promising quick resolutions in exchange for significant fees. By pretending to be a judge, he took advantage of vulnerable individuals, manipulating the justice system for his own benefit. His scheme involved accomplices posing as court staff, creating an illusion of legitimacy.

In one significant case from 2019, Christian issued a ruling in favor of a client attempting to claim government land in the Paldi area. He falsely claimed to be an “official arbitrator” appointed by the government, initiating fake proceedings and instructing the district collector to include his client’s name in the land’s revenue records.

To enforce this counterfeit order, Christian, with the help of another lawyer, filed an appeal in the city civil court, attaching the fraudulent order he had generated. However, Hardik Desai, the court registrar, eventually discovered that Christian was not a legitimate arbitrator and that the tribunal’s order was invalid. Following this discovery, Desai filed a complaint, prompting the Karanj police to register an FIR against Christian under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 170 (impersonating a public servant) and 419 (cheating by impersonation).

Christian’s arrest is particularly notable as he is already facing a separate cheating complaint lodged in 2015 at the Maninagar police station.