In a significant development, police in Mumbai have filed a First Information Report against Purshottam Chavan, the husband of an Indian Police Service officer, and several unspecified accomplices for allegedly defrauding homebuyers by promising them government quota flats at discounted rates. The FIR was timely lodged at the Colaba police station on Friday.
The Allegations
As per the complaint, Chavan and his accomplices took massive amounts of money from people under the pretext of allotting flats and plots under the government quota in prime locations in Mumbai like Prabhadevi, Dadar, and Parel while also being operational through Thane and Pune. Such properties were said to be offered at prices below market value under specific government schemes.
Government quota flats refer to units that are handed over by private builders to the government as part of settling some dues. The government subsequently allocates these flats under a range of housing schemes designed to provide affordable housing to eligible citizens.
Modus Operandi
The accused devised an intricate strategy to dupe potential homebuyers. They would call the victims for meetings where Chavan’s accomplices acted as government officials to give credence to their statements. For instance, as reported by PTI, 57-year-old complainant Kedar Degvekar has alleged that in July 2020, Chavan collected ₹3.37 crore from his wife and got him to sign a sale agreement in front of several guys impersonating government officials. Other than these formalities, Degvekar never received the three-bedroom flat as promised.
Accomplices and Further Investigations
The FIR includes among the co-accused in the case an Assistant Sub-Registrar and several persons in the Parel-Sewri stamp registration office. These persons are alleged to have aided in facilitating the fraudulent activities by providing bogus documents and helping in the impersonation of government personnel.
Law enforcement agencies have a very active interest in uncovering the extent of individuals linked to this scam. This investigation is determined to unearth the totality of the fraud, ascertain more victims involved, and find how many other officials were involved in this conspiracy.
Current Legal Status of the Accused
Purshottam Chavan has already been sent to judicial custody, thanks to his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in another case of money laundering. The ED’s investigation concerns accusations of embezzlement of funds and proceeds of Chavan.
Impact on Victims
The scam has wreaked total havoc on the victims, many of whom had spent the last few pieces of their fortunes or life’s savings in the hope that they would have affordable housing accessible to them amid the cutthroat real estate market in Mumbai. This betrayal has caused huge losses and wiped out the trust in housing schemes said to be backed by the government.
Legal Proceedings and Possible Sentencing
The accused face charges pertaining to several sections of the Indian Penal Code, which could include cheating, forgery, impersonation, and conspiracy charges. If convicted, they face possible severe imprisonment, fine, and restitution to the victims.
Advisory to the Public
Authorities gave out advisories asking the public to be extra cautious while undertaking any sort of real estate transaction, especially those with potential dustings on them. Buyers are advised to first verify the property offers through government authorities so that the public should not lose hope due to large advance payments entailed with no written authentication.
It serves to demonstrate how seriously due diligence must be exercised when conducting real estate transactions, and it surveys the seriousness of a thriving regulatory force to stave off such frauds. With time, it is hoped that this will make its way with the law against the criminals, and more measures will be instituted to keep prospective homebuyers out of similar kinds of entailment in the future.
