Director Fails to Prove Forgery in Multi-Million Shilling Property Dispute

A witness in a forgery allegations case, Pankaj Chhaganlal, the director of the estate of his late brother, has failed to explain how Board Minutes allegedly received from the accused were fraudulent, since he admitted to having never received the documents.

The documents were allegedly received by another brother and co-director, Chandulal Chhaganlal Shah, from the chairman of Meriton Group of Companies, Philip Chrisantus Obure. Pankaj is the director of the estate of his late brother Ajeet Kumar Shah.

The defence lawyer, Mr. Odwesso, holding brief for Patrick Lumumba, noted the inconsistencies and put Pankaj on a task,

“How did you position yourself to testify on behalf of your deceased brother, Arjeet Kumar Shah? The lawyer asked for clarity on who filed a criminal complaint against Obure.

Without dispute, Pankaj admitted he did not personally complain to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI); instead, he instructed his lawyer, Ezra Makori, to file a forgery claim on his behalf.

Pankaj also admitted that during the signing of the agreement in 2017 between SBS Dunhill and the AC & Others company Limited.

The lawyer further scrutinized his evidence on how he purports the signature of Arjeet and stamps impressions were forged without producing the documents he purports to be genuine; moreover, he was not present when his brother signed the documents.

The court was further informed that Justice Cyprian Mugambi delivered a ruling on June 27, 2025, regarding the orders used to evict Obure from the disputed building were fraudulently acquired by Pankaj.

The lawyer termed the action as punitive, orchestrated by the complainant to deceive and to misuse the legal process in a bid to oust his client, Obure, from the building.

The forgery allegation case involving city businessman Philip Chrisantus Obure, popularly known as Chris Obure, the chairman of Meriton Group of Companies, has denied being involved in the sale agreement of the multi-billion shillings Senteu Plaza building in Kilimani.

While giving his testimony before Milimani principal magistrate Paul Mutai, Pankaj Chhaganlal said the agreement he had with the complainant is for the lease of the office space, which he signed, but not for sale.

He told the court that the case originated from the failure to pay the rent by the accused person, prompting him to direct his lawyer to report the matter to the DCI.

“Your honour, I advised my lawyer to report the matter after the accused failed to comply with the agreement of lease we had on October 1, 2017,” he said.

Pankaj, who is the director of AC & Others Company Limited, also denied being familiar with signature and stamp impressions bearing on the Binding Board Resolution, presented before the court, and refused to sign the document.

He told the court that in his business, he does not deal with Binding Board Resolutions.

He affirmed that the lease was between him and a tenant and not a buyer,

“The agreement was between AC & Others Company Limited and SBS Danhill, the tenant and not a buyer,” Pankaj reiterated.

According to court documents, Obure is jointly charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery, uttering of false documents, and giving false information to a person employed in public service.