Builder and Son Arrested in Mumbai for Multi-Crore Flat Fraud

The Kasturba Marg police have arrested a builder and his son for cheating investors and homebuyers of several crores by offering flats that were never delivered. Ashok Jethwa, 55, and his son Mihir Jethwa, 35, were picked up from Ernakulam by Zone 12’s special team and are being brought to Mumbai.

A 50-year-old Khar West resident told police he had known the accused since 2016. They claimed they were redeveloping a project under Triveni Developers in Borivli East and offered him three flats in Borivli Nil Akash co-op housing society. They showed documents stating that the building had approval for 10 floors, a proposal for three more floors was with the BMC, the project was RERA-registered, and that possession would be given by 31 December 2018.

Trusting this, he bought three flats and transferred Rs 1,74,89,910 between 2016 and 2018. They also promised him 24 per cent interest for the delay. However, when he visited the site in December 2018, only six floors had been built, and work had been stopped. Later, the duo offered a flat in Kandivli, which was never delivered. When he asked for a refund, the accused allegedly told him, “Do whatever you want.”

He then filed a complaint stating that the builders cheated him out of money, abandoned the project between 2018 and 2024, and violated the agreement. Police said the duo used fake Aadhaar cards and stayed across states to evade arrest, travelling under false identities. The special squad tracked them to a hotel in Ernakulam and arrested them on Sunday night. They were brought back to Mumbai on Tuesday. Further investigation is underway.

Police said over six cases are registered against the duo at Kasturba Marg police station, with additional FIRs at Borivli and MHB Colony police stations. The two allegedly posed as developers, showed fake permissions, and assured buyers of timely possession.

Case details: - Cr No. 177/25: Rs 1.17 cr - Cr No. 488/25: Rs 1.51 cr - Cr No. 351/25: Rs 1.74 cr - Cr No. 852/23: Rs 13.52 cr - Cr No. 288/23: Rs 75 lakh - Cr No. 108/23: Rs 1.20 cr - Borivali: Cr No. 75/21, 464/24 (conditional bail), 42/24 - MHB: Cr No. 356/23