Search for an affordable house lands 19 in fraud net
NEW DELHI: In November 2018, Dr Shivali Seth, a Delhi-based dermatologist, came across an advertisement regarding an affordable housing scheme being launched by a private developer in southwest Delhi’s Chhawla. The developer claimed that the scheme was under the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) land pooling policy.
“Since the advertisement had the DDA’S name and the scheme was lucrative, I invested R12.37 lakh, after my name figured in the list of people selected in the lucky draw. I did some online and verification of the real estate developer and the proposed site which threw up some red flags. Two months later, I found that the housing scheme was fake. All my hard-earned money was gone,” said Seth, a single mother.
Like Seth and thousands of others, the dream of owning a house into a nightmare after being duped by developers and promoters, who tricked them into investing in housing schemes by fraudulently using DDA land-pooling policy, which is yet to become operational.
In the last one and a half years, Delhi Police’s economic offences wing (EOW) has registered 19 cases of cheating and fraud against various developers and housing society groups. So far, EOW has arrested 13 officer bearers of four companies – Revanta Multi State CGHS Ltd, Aerocity Dwarka, Rudra Welfare Society, and Eminent Officers Welfare Society. Three of the four arrested office bearers of Revanta group are now out on bail, at least three EOW officials probing these cases said.
“The fraudsters had launched web portals and various types of electronic advertisements were being sent to attract homebuyers and dupe them in the name of allotting flats. A special investigation team was formed to probe the cases,” said an officer.
The DDA had notified its land pooling policy for the first time in 2013 and later in 2015. But it is only in 2018, the land-owning agency started work on it.
Joint commissioner of police (EOW) OP Mishra said that even as the land pooling policy planning was in the early stage, various builders and promoters have grabbed this as an opportunity to exploit the situation by luring in and duping innocent flat buyers. They often promised flats in Dwarka, Chhawla, Najafgarh and Rohini under the scheme.
When contacted, founder member and former president of Revanta group Satender Maan (out on bail) said, “We purchased 48 acres using the investors’ money but the problem began when the DDA reduced the floor area ration and we informed investors that they will either have to pay more money for the extra land or would get reduced size flats. Many filed complaints and civil suits. After registering the case, the police freezed our accounts and we could not progress in our project.”
When contacted regarding the frauds, the DDA released a statement. “DDA has time and again cautioned home buyers and investors against fraudulent practices by some developers and societies to lure people into buying houses under the false pretext of land policy. Any person interested or being given promise of any land or apartments under any land pooling scheme, must go through the instructions and details about the scheme on DDA’S website so as to safeguard their interests and avoid any trap by fraudsters floating and advertising false and fictitious land pooling schemes.”