Developer arrested for duping Mumbai tenants of ₹100 crore

The accused has been charged under sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent), 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police has arrested developer Shirish Dixit for allegedly duping tenants of a Wadala building on the pretext of redevelopment. Dixit failed to complete the redevelopment project for eight years, after promising the tenants of the building to complete it in 36 months.

Cops said Dixit had duped the tenants of Rs100 crore by mortgaging the building and refusing to pay rents to tenants, said an official. He was produced in Esplande court and was remanded in police custody till February 17.

According to the police, complainant Sunil Kishan Soi has in his complaint stated that Shirish Dixit of Dixit Realties signed an assignment with the original owner Sohnaz building in Wadala (West). Dixit told the 21 tenants of Sohnaz building that he is the owner of the building and would not allow any other developer to redevelop it.

As per the complaint, he also allegedly offered the tenants bigger shops and flats against their smaller ones, on the condition they that they assigned him as the developer for their property. He was willing to provide some other amenities too, along with the rent, until the completion of redevelopment.

The Bombay HC recently ordered the auction of some of Dixit’s properties to complete the redevelopment.