Panvel Real Estate Scam: Lawyer Sells Same Flat Twice, Cheats Developer of ₹32 Lakh

Navi Mumbai: A real estate developer in Panvel has allegedly been cheated of Rs 32 lakh by a local lawyer who sold the same flat twice using fake documents and concealed a substantial outstanding home loan on the property. The Kamothe Police have registered a case against the accused, identified as Satish Sadashiv Phadke, and have launched an investigation.

According to police, the complainant, Vishal Ghogavkar (43), a resident of Aade village in Panvel and a real estate businessman, had entered into an agreement with Phadke in August 2020 to purchase Flat No. 204 in Umiya Kiran Society, Sector-21, Kamothe. Phadke allegedly assured Ghogavkar that the flat was loan-free and agreed to sell it for Rs 32 lakh.

After Ghogavkar paid the full amount, a registered agreement for sale was executed on October 14, 2020, and the possession of the flat was handed over. However, a few months later, Ghogavkar received a notice from ICICI Bank regarding outstanding dues on the flat.

Upon further inquiry, it came to light that Phadke had taken a home loan of Rs 38 lakh on the same flat, which he had failed to repay. The total outstanding amount had reached Rs 45 lakh, and the bank had taken possession of the property.

Ghogavkar also discovered that the documents, including the society’s No Objection Certificate and other related papers provided by Phadke, were forged.

The investigation further revealed that Phadke had previously sold the same flat in 2019 to a couple, Nisha and Virendrakumar Yadav, for Rs 12 lakh. Despite being aware of this prior sale and the existing loan, Phadke allegedly went ahead with the second transaction.

Initially, Phadke promised to return the Rs 32 lakh to Ghogavkar, but he failed to do so. Ghogavkar subsequently filed a complaint of cheating and forgery against the lawyer. Further investigation is underway, a police officer from Kamothe police station said.