Retired Teacher Loses ₹1.25 Crore in Mumbai Real Estate Scam
Mumbai: A retired school teacher from Mira Road fell victim to a real estate scam, losing ₹1.25 crore to an estate agent and his associate. The scam involved the fraudulent sale of a flat in Kandivali using forged documents and impersonation of the actual owner.
According to the police, the complainant met one Ravindra Singh on June 12 this year in Kashigaon, Mira Road East. Singh, who introduced himself as an estate agent, informed the teacher about a flat owned by Ganesh Prasad Chaturvedi, located on the 15th floor of the Lodawoods tower in Lokhandwala, Kandivali.
The victim visited the flat and expressed his interest in buying the property. Following this, Singh introduced him to Chaturvedi, who claimed to be the owner of the flat. They negotiated the price to ₹1.25 crore, which the teacher transferred to them, and also signed the sale deed.
Subsequently, the victim repeatedly followed up with Singh and Chaturvedi for possession, but the two allegedly evaded him and eventually cut off communication, the officer said.
He then went to the building, spoke to some people, and inquired about the owner’s whereabouts. He discovered that the flat indeed belonged to a person named Chaturvedi, but the man he had met was not the real owner but someone who impersonated him.
After numerous failed attempts to reach the two men for four months, he approached the police, after which a case was registered against Singh and his associate under sections 319(2) (cheating by personation), 318(4) (cheating), 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), 336 (3) (forgery), and 338 (forgery of a valuable security) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
This case highlights the importance of due diligence and verification when dealing with real estate transactions. Prospective buyers should always verify the authenticity of documents and the identity of the seller to avoid falling into such scams.
In Mumbai, real estate transactions can be complex and fraught with risks, especially in high-demand areas like Kandivali. It is crucial for buyers to seek legal advice and ensure all necessary checks are carried out before finalizing any deal.
