More Mumbai homebuyers approach cops over builder delays

MUMBAI: The economic offences wing (EOW) of city police has taken over probe into complaints against directors of JVPD Properties Ltd for allegedly cheating 96 homebuyers. The complainants told police the builder failed to hand over flats for which they have so far paid Rs 28 crore. Till now, four FIRs have been lodged against the builder over delay in different projects.

In the latest case taken over by the EOW, a Kalva resident had, last month, lodged an FIR at Santacruz police station saying she had made payments for a flat in a residential project, Serenity, at Powai. Dhanshree Shinde said the project was launched in 2013 and the builder promised to deliver the flat in 42 months.

"However, work is yet to begin at the site," said an EOW officer. Lakshman Bhagtani, Mukhesh Bhagtani and Dipesh Bhagtani, all directors of the firm, have been named in the FIR.

Soon after the FIR, many other homebuyers approached police saying they too had made payments. "No work has been done yet and the developers have not refunded our money too," a homebuyer told police. Many of them have formed a group and approached the Bombay high court as well. "I tried contacting the developers, but in vain," said another homebuyer.

When contacted, Laxmani Bhagtani said some homebuyers of the Powai project are asking for a refund as a project of his in Mira Road, Riyo, has got stuck. "We repaid many buyers who wanted their money back. However, due to the negative publicity in the Riyo project case, some people thought Serenity is stuck and started demanding their money back. In fact, the complainant, Dhanshree Shinde, had come to us asking for her money back. We did pay her two instalments and the the third instalment is remaining. Even though she signed the flat cancellation certificate, Shinde did not return to collect the third instalment. We have got the commencement certificate for Serenity and work has started. Our work is in progress and the project will be ready as per the schedule given to the buyers," said Bhagtani.

A police officer they had earlier written to banks asking them to freeze the accounts of the developers.

Early this month, the EOW had taken over probe into an FIR registered against the Bhagtanis over delay in a project at Dahisar (East). There, the builders had allegedly promised the buyers that construction work would begin in 15 months (from 2012) or money would be returned with 15% interest.

Work on that project, Bhagtani Sapphire, too has not started yet, a police officer said. In this case, Mandar Rane, a manager with a telecom company, had lodged an FIR against the Bhagtanis and others for allegedly cheating him and eight others of Rs 1.29 crore. In this case too, the accused had returned some amount to the complainant, the officer added.