Builder dupes 500 people though pre-launch scheme

For Asha Sabharwal (67), it's an endless wait for her dream home. After shelling out Rs 10 lakh for a plot of land at Dharuhera in Haryana, now she has to make several trips to the police station. The reason — the piece of land never existed. Vijaita Singh reports.

For Asha Sabharwal (67), it's an endless wait for her dream home.

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After shelling out Rs 10 lakh for a plot of land at Dharuhera in Haryana, now she has to make several trips to the police station.

The reason — the piece of land never existed and Sabharwal, like 3000 others, was reportedly tricked into paying money as “booking amount”, as part of a pre-launch scheme.

Since then, nearly four years have passed but neither has the builder returned her money nor has he been arrested.

According to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi, in 2009, police received several complaints against builders, where fraud over Rs 100 crore was committed.

Over 800 acres of land, suspected to be procured out of this cheated amount was seized by the police and more than 80 property dealers were arrested.

Sabharwal was allegedly cheated by an Ashram based company -- M.Tech Developers - which promised villas and flats at various places in and around Delhi -- Dharuhera, Bhiwadi, Lucknow and even Goa.

Her husband, Ramesh Chandra Sabharwal (75), who retired from the Indian Railways, had invested his hard-earned money in the building project.

“Company officials refuse to refund the money and threaten us if we go to their office. They also gave numerous fake assurance letters that the project is still underway,” said Raza Khan, another investor.

Police said they have already registered a case against the developers and have de-activated their bank accounts.

“People should always insist on physically visiting the project site and verify documents before investing money,” said a senior police officer.