Developer who cheated investors may face tough Acts

AROUND 100 PEOPLE REGISTERED THEIR COMPLAINTS ON SUNDAY OVER CHEATING IN VARIOUS HOUSING PROJECTS.

PANVEL: Duped homebuyers have demanded the police charge the director of Tirupati Balaji Builders, Mahendra Singh, under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 ( MCOCA) and Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act (MOFA).

The police had last week arrested Singh for allegedly duping investors of crores of rupees after promising cheap flats, which were never delivered, in Wakdi and Nere areas. He denied the charges.

Singh was arrested following a complaint to police commissioner Prabhat Ranjan.

Now, the duped home buyers have formed Navi Mumbai Action Forum under Congress leader Abhijit Patil. Through the forum, the members plan to unitedly fight to get their hardearned money back.

“Singh is reported to be director in 11 companies. Hence, there is a need to inquire into the dealings of all the companies he is associated with. We have submitted a memorandum in this regard earlier this week to the police,” Patil said.

“Hundreds of people have been cheated in the scam. We have demanded that the police register cases under MCOCA and MOFA against the accused,” he added.

“The people would be shown plots in various areas of Panvel. They would then be offered houses at less than the prevailing market rate and people fall for it,” Patil lamented.

Around 100 people turned up on Sunday at the Khandeshwar police station to register their complaints over cheating in various housing projects.

The police said all complaints were against Singh.

“We had received over 200 complaints against the builder following which Singh and his associate, Bablu Gupta, were arrested. They are accused of cheating homebuyers,” said Vishwas Pandhere, deputy commissioner of police.

He added, “We are investigating where the collected money has been invested. We are also trying to help the people get their money back.”