2 arrested for duping people of Rs 23 lakh

Mumbai: The property cell of Mumbai crime branch arrested two persons for duping people under the pretext of allotting Mhada flats at lower rates. The accused duo claimed to have contacts with higher ups in Mhada and took Rs 23 lakh from him and gave him possession of a flat in Vikhroli’s transit camp. However, after going to stay there, the victim learnt that the same flat was sold to another person for Rs 15 lakh.

The arrested accused were identified as Arvind Khedsia, 42, a resident of Poisar in Kandivali and Harish Jain, 38, a resident of Girgaon. The duo had duped a person who was looking to buy an apartment for himself in Mumbai. The accused came in contact with the victim and claimed that they had contacts in Mhada and could arrange an owned accommodation at cheaper rate.

“They subsequently sold him the room at transit camp in Vikhroli’s Kannamvar Nagar and took Rs 23 lakh from him. The victim went to stay at the said location and after two days came across other person who claimed to have bought the same room for Rs 15 lakh. The accused had forged documents to make the fraudulent sale,” said a crime branch officer.

The officials added that the victim soon lodged a complaint with the police and upon probe into the documentation it was fou-nd that the papers were dud. The duo was subsequ-ently tracked and arrested by the property cell following which they revealed that Khedsia posed as the owner of the said room.

“He had also affixed his photograph on the documents and with the help of these fake documents had got the possession of the room. They later sold the room twice and cheated the complainant.

A case of cheating, forgery, forging document and criminal conspiracy as per the IPC has been registered against them.