Gujarat has offered various models to the nation. Amongst this is the model of fakes. After fake teachers, police, degrees and doctors, the state has now produced a fake judge.
Morris Samuel Christian has been arrested by the Ahmedabad police for running a “fake” court in Gandhinagar for nearly six years. The police have confirmed that Morris, who did not have a basic valid degree, “practised” and indulged in “arbitration” for over three decades.
Anil C. Kella, former chairperson of the Gujarat Bar Council and current head of its finance committee, informed the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court that Christian is not registered with any state bar council in India. Furthermore, the law degree he claims to hold is not recognised by the Bar Council of India.
An initial investigation revealed that Christian targeted unsuspecting individuals involved in land disputes, offering swift resolutions in exchange for substantial fees. By posing as a “judge,” he exploited vulnerable individuals, manipulating the legal process for personal gain.
Christian’s scheme included his associates posing as court officials, creating an air of legitimacy to deceive his clients. The elaborate ruse, complete with a mock courtroom in Gandhinagar, gave his fraudulent proceedings an appearance of authenticity.
In 2019, Christian issued a ruling in favour of a client using the same fraudulent tactics. The case involved government land overseen by the district collector, which his client claimed, seeking to have their name added to the revenue records in the Paldi area, according to a police statement.
Without any legal authority or a court order under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Christian informed his client that he had been appointed as the “official arbitrator” by the government.
“He then conducted fake proceedings in his ‘court’ and issued an order directing the collector to add his client’s name to the land’s revenue records,” the statement read.
To enforce this order, Christian, through another lawyer, filed an appeal in the city civil court, attaching the fraudulent order. The court registrar, Hardik Desai, recently discovered that Christian was neither an arbitrator nor was the tribunal’s order genuine.
Following his complaint, Karanj police filed an FIR under sections 170 (impersonating a public servant) and 419 (cheating by impersonation) of the Indian Penal Code.
During the hearing, Christian insisted that he should not be referred to as “the accused” and continues to consider himself a “judge.” Christian, accused of illegally practising law for 25-30 years and posing as a judge for nearly six, alleged that the police coerced a confession from him through violence.
The court has now granted an 11-day police remand for Christian. Though the police sought a 14-day remand, the court ordered Christian’s custody till 11 am on November 3.
He will be transferred to Sabarmati Central Jail and the police will submit his medical report to the court.
Past frauds
Vibes of India has verified that this Christian’s illegal activities date back to 2007 when he applied for a legal licence from the BCI. After verifying his documents, the council discovered that his qualifications were invalid. Christian claimed to have obtained an L.L.B. degree in 2002 from the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Sansthan in New Delhi, an institution not recognised by the Bar Council of India. He also falsely claimed to hold a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the same university.
His claimed membership in the International Bar Council was dismissed by the Gujarat Bar Council, which clarified that such membership does not confer the right to practise law in Indian courts.
Christian’s illegal activities came to light following multiple complaints of fraud. In 2015, he established a fake arbitration tribunal in Gandhinagar, charging victims exorbitant fees for his bogus services. A resident of the Drive-In Road area reportedly paid him Rs 1 lakh. He even forged a circular in the name of the Principal Judge of Gandhinagar, claiming he had been appointed as an arbitration counsellor for all civil cases under Section 89 of the Civil Procedure Code.
His fake rulings have had a significant impact, involving more than 100 acres of land, with at least 11 properties affected and 10 cases still unresolved. Christian charged as much as Rs 30 lakh per arbitration, listing government officials and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) as the opposing parties in these fraudulent proceedings.
In 2006, he was arrested by the city crime branch in connection with a fake visa scam. Authorities seized nine fake passports and forged visas from him during that investigation.
This article was originally published on Vibes of India.
