Archive · 17 Dec 2025
Fraud Allegations Surround Mohta's Rs 600-crore Project
There is a big dispute about a new housing project called Merlin Niyasa in Kolkata.
The project is worth 600 crore rupees and has over 150 expensive apartments.
Some people say that the project's owners, Merlin Group and its chairman Sushil Mohta, did something wrong.
They say that Merlin made a deal with a man named Shanti Ranjan Paul, who didn't have the right to make that deal.
The court has said that Merlin and Paul can't do anything with that deal until January 2026 while they figure out what really happened.
This isn't the first time Mohta's projects have had problems.
Two other projects are also in trouble with the courts.
Merlin Group and its chairman Sushil Mohta are accused of fraud in a land deal for the Rs 600-crore Merlin Niyasa project in Anandapur, Kolkata.
A court has restrained Merlin Projects and former director Shanti Ranjan Paul from acting on a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) and Power of Attorney (POA) until 7 January 2026.
The petitioners allege that the JDA and POA were executed based on forged documents and that Paul did not have the authority to make these agreements.
Merlin Niyasa comprises over 150 high-end apartments priced between Rs 3.8 crore and Rs 4.8 crore.
Two other projects by Mohta's group are also facing legal issues, including a court order for demolition of a 26-storeyed tower in New Town, Kolkata.
- Who
- Merlin Group, Chairman Sushil Mohta, former director Shanti Ranjan Paul, DC Paul Group Construction Private Limited, Adhira Commercial Private Limited
- What
- Allegations of fraud and forgery in a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) and Power of Attorney (POA)
- When
- Court order issued on 6 December, case ongoing until 7 January 2026
- Where
- Anandapur, Kolkata, India
- Why
- Allegations that the JDA and POA were executed based on forged documents and without proper authority
- Project Name
- Merlin Niyasa
- Project Value
- Rs 600 crore
- Location
- Anandapur, Kolkata
- Number of Apartments
- More than 150
- Apartment Price Range
- Rs 3.8 crore to Rs 4.8 crore
- Court Order Date
- 6 December
- Restraining Order Duration
- Until 7 January 2026
- Accused Parties
- Merlin Projects and Shanti Ranjan Paul