Builder sells two flats in Mumbai to 150 buyers, collects Rs 30 Crore

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

builder from Bengaluru, who had residential projects in Virar, Mumbai, has been arrested for allegedly cheating 150 buyers and swindling them of over Rs 30 crore. As per a TOI report, the accused, Raju Sulire, the director of Mandar Housing, was apprehended by the crime branch of Mira Bhayander Vasai Virar police commissionerate for selling two flats to multiple buyers.
The police are currently investigating if a third flat was sold in a similar manner.

Sulire's accomplices, Avinash Dhole, Vipul Patil, Allahudin Shaikh, Yusuf Khotwala, and others, are currently on the run. Mandar Housing has ongoing projects in Virar and Nalasopara. The fraudulent activities took place between 2011 and 2018, and multiple complaints were registered at Arnala police station in Virar (west).

The crime branch unit, while investigating unsolved cases, began tracking down the main suspect, Sulire. The accused lured customers by offering flats at rates below the market average. They showed two or three flats to around 150 potential buyers and even completed the sale agreements.

Further investigations revealed that some flats were sold to multiple buyers.
To gain the trust of customers, the accused promised them interest if there were any delays in the possession of the flats. The police suspect that the builders used fake documents for constructing the residential towers.

After identifying Sulire as the prime suspect, who operated from his residence in Bengaluru, a team from the police force arrested him in the southern city on Thursday. He has been remanded in police custody until November 9 and has been charged with cheating and forgery. The police are actively searching for his accomplices.