Mumbai Police EOW Cracks Down on Real Estate Fraud: Developers Arrested for ₹35.7 Crore Scam

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police has arrested real estate developers Ramesh Shah and his son Rahul for allegedly defrauding investors in a failed housing project in South Mumbai. The developers are accused of cheating 78 flat buyers of ₹35.7 crore.

Real EstateFraudMumbai PoliceEowRadius Sumer DevelopersReal Estate MumbaiMay 17, 2025

Mumbai Police EOW Cracks Down on Real Estate Fraud: Developers Arrested for ₹35.7 Crore Scam

Real Estate Mumbai:The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police has taken significant action against a prominent real estate developer and his son for a major fraud case. Ramesh Shah (65) and his son Rahul (40) were arrested for allegedly cheating investors in a failed housing project in South Mumbai. The case was registered last November against Radius Sumer Developers Pvt. Ltd., along with real estate developers Sanjay Chhabria (51) and another individual, for defrauding two brothers of ₹35.71 crore. The project, known as Harbour Heights, was located in Mazgaon and was promoted as a lucrative opportunity for NRIs seeking investment in Indian real estate. Ramesh Shah and Rahul Shah were also accused of luring 78 flat buyers to invest in the housing project in Mazgaon. Despite the promises, the project failed to materialize, and the investors were cheated out of ₹35.7 crore. The father-son duo was arrested from their luxurious apartment in Gamdevi and produced before a special MPID court, where they were remanded to police custody. The case was initiated based on a complaint from Mahesh Mirani (67), a resident of Bandra West. According to the complaint, the accused persuaded Mahesh Mirani and his Hong Kong-based brother, Purushottam Mirani, to invest in the Harbour Heights project. The developers assured them of 18,181 square feet of carpet area at a rate of ₹28,875 per square foot, leading to a total investment of ₹52.50 crore. Mahesh and Purushottam Mirani together invested ₹21.94 crore in advance under the name of their Metro Investment Partnership firm in Radius Sumer Developers' project. However, no construction work was undertaken within the agreed two years. In April 2019, a cancellation agreement was signed, under which the accused agreed to return ₹35.71 crore and issued cheques that bounced due to insufficient funds. Apart from the Mirani brothers, 77 others who had booked flats in the failed housing project of three towers, each with 25 stories, were also duped. The Mirani brothers alleged that despite repeated assurances and documented agreements, Radius Sumer Developers neither progressed with the construction nor returned the invested funds. This arrest is a significant step towards justice for the numerous victims who were cheated by the developers. The EOW's action sends a strong message to other fraudulent real estate developers and reassures investors that their investments are being protected by law enforcement agencies. The real estate sector in Mumbai is a crucial part of the city's economy, and such fraudulent activities can have a detrimental impact on investor confidence. The EOW's proactive approach in this case is expected to deter similar fraudulent practices and restore trust in the real estate market.