Andheri builder accused of conning many, including 13 NRIs :Mirror

The Amboli police are investigating a string of cases filed against an Andheribased builder, who is accused of taking money from buyers for highrise projects in Andheri and Goregaon, which never took off. Police have learnt that at least 13 of those conned are residents of the UAE, who have invested in the Goregaon project which was to be completed in October last year.

Police said that the builder, Abhishek Vyas, was the CEO and managing director of two realty firms, A&A Shelters Pvt Ltd, and A&A Better Homes Pvt Ltd. One of the complainants, Jatin Mer, said that he had paid Rs 20 lakh as advance payment for a one BHK flat in Vyas's Goregaon project, wherein a 25storey building was to come up under the MHADA scheme.

“The builder had quoted Rs 48.5 lakh for a one BHK flat. This was in April 2013. The builder had promised possession of the flat within 18 months. I saw an advertisement of this project on a property portal, and met two agents, Harjap Singh and Priya Dhaktode,“ Mer said. According to Mer's complaint, the agents facilitated his meeting with Sanghatmitra Kandalgaonkar, who introduced herself as director in Vyas's company, following which he met Vyas and another director, Vishal Dattani.

“I was asked to pay 40% of the flat's price as booking amount, and the remaining to be paid in four instalments.The builder said that he will repay the amount with interest if the project doesn't take off or gets delayed. The builder issued a cheque of Rs 30 lakh to wards security against the payments,“ Mer said in his complaint.

Months went by and there was no sign of any development on the plot, raising suspicions, Mer said. He inquired about the cheque with the bank, and was told that Vyas's company accounts had been suspended.When he approached Vyas and the directors, they issued him a new cheque, saying that there were income-tax problems, due to which the earlier account had been suspended.

“In December last year, I found a new signboard had come up at the site, and contacted Kandalgaonkar and Vyas, who said the project is being developed by another company due to `technical problems'. They told me to encash the cheque, but it bounced due to insufficient funds. They issued me a third cheque, which also bounced,“ Mer said.

“Vyas was arrested on July 5 in connection with another cheating case.Currently, he has been granted an interim bail till July 29. We suspect that more people will come forward against him,“ Inspector Vijay Kadam from Amboli Police Station said.

Vyas told this newspaper that he was a “victim of the complainants' extortion“. He said, “Our project got delayed as there was a policy change in Mhada. We requested customers to invest in other projects, but a few people wanted more money than what should have been paid to them in case of booking cancellations. We had issued cheques asking them to encash later. However, these people deposited the cheques without informing us.“