Pune police book 13 over alleged Rs 89 lakh cheating of 51 buyers in flat and plot scheme

Bharati Vidyapeeth police in Pune have registered a case against 13 people for allegedly cheating 51 people of a total of Rs 89.07 lakh in the name of offering flats and open plots at low prices. Among those booked is Kisan Dhavji Rathod, owner of a company called Infratech. According to the complaint, all this happened between 2023 and September 18, 2024.

The complaint was filed by Vandana Dnyandev Khandare, 38, a nurse who lives at Upper Ota, Indiranagar, Bibwewadi. Police said she wanted to buy a home of her own. In July 2023, she saw an advertisement on social media for Infratech's housing project "Katraj Valley", which promised flats at affordable prices.

When she contacted the company, manager Amol Gore called her to the office at Mangdewadi. There she booked flats priced at Rs 8 lakh and Rs 14 lakh and paid Rs 2 lakh as an initial amount. Chaitrali Dahiwal signed the agreement with her on behalf of the company. It is alleged that Sagar Gole and Gore had told her that the project's bhoomipujan would be held after six months and construction would begin after that.

Six months passed after the agreement, but work did not begin. When Khandare went to the Mangdewadi office to enquire, she did not get a satisfactory answer. She also learnt that several other customers who had booked flats were getting their bookings cancelled and asking for their money back.

When she went to cancel her own booking and demand a refund, she was told that Gore, Dahiwal and Gole had left the company. She alleges that when she asked the remaining staff for the money, they replied, "We have not taken your money, do what you want." She then went to the Bharati Vidyapeeth police station.

During the investigation, police found that the company allegedly drew in many people by promising flats and open plots in the housing project and took booking amounts, but gave possession to no one. A total of Rs 89,07,000 belonging to 51 people is alleged to have been lost.

The case is registered against Kisan Dhavji Rathod, Sushalini Kisan Rathod and Shivkanya Rathod, who have been described as the company's owners. The other accused are Pranavi Bhagwat Aneraav, Chaitrali Vishal Dahiwal, Sanjana Rathod, Anil Shankar Deshmukh, Hanumant Balu Gore, Rajesh Rangrao Kakade, Balasaheb Kondiba Ghogare, Abhishek Chandrashekhar Sasawade, Sagar Gole and Amol Gore. An attempt was made to get Infratech's side, but there was no response. Police sub-inspector Patil is investigating the case.

Several flat buyers said they felt cheated. According to Karuna Vijay Gaikwad, the company had promised to begin construction within two months, around Dussehra. Buyers were also told that the sooner they paid large sums, the sooner the work would be completed. She said, "In reality no work has started. We feel we have been cheated."

Kalpana Gaikwad said she had booked a flat in Ambegaon after seeing an advertisement. According to her, many middle-class families put in their lifetime savings in the hope of an affordable home near the highway, but have not got possession even after two years. She said, "Not even basic excavation has been done, and the company is still asking for money in the name of an 'agreement'. The administration should intervene and help us get back our hard-earned money."

Santosh Parde, who booked a flat in 2023, said the company had promised all necessary amenities with the flat. He has now learnt that about ten of the company's offices in Pune have shut down. He urged the administration to take immediate notice, act against those responsible and ensure justice for customers.