Mumbai fraud: Mother, daughter cheated 130 people promising flats, held
For this mother-daughter duo, promising people flats in costly Mumbai and then duping them proved to be child's play. A 53-year-old woman and her daughter were arrested for cheating 130 people of Rs. 5cr on the pretext of arranging them flats in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) buildings built under Slum Rehabilitation Scheme (SRS). They targeted those affected by MMRDA's expansion projects.
Accused was in the game since years: Complainant
Sushila Narayan Shetty and her daughter Suman Shetty, 32, have been carrying out this con since years but their game ended when 40-year-old Sudhir Shetty lodged a complaint against them. Sudhir claimed he knew them since 2012 as they stayed in the same building in Kanjurmarg. Sushila worked for Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centre and conducted surveys, Sudhir said.
Sushila 'wanted to do something' for affected people
Sushila shared with Sudhir that she has surveyed Nitty Paaspoli-Powai, Diva, Mumbra and Kalwa areas and discovered that the slum-dwellers are affected due to MMRDA's projects. As a social activist, she said wanted to rehabilitate them and arrange for rooms under SRS, Sudhir said, adding she had asked him to buy slum rooms for Rs. 6 lakh each, saying it will benefit him.
Sushila won Sudhir's trust by handing over 'official' documents
Sushila won his trust when she gave him transfer documents after he paid his portion. He introduced his relatives to her, from whom she collected Rs. 39lakh. After a while, she started avoiding them and that is when they grew suspicious. "They were shocked when their names were not enlisted as project-affected people, who were allotted rooms by MMRDA," said police.
Forged documents found in accused's house
In 2015, a case was registered against the accused at the Kanjurmarg police station, which later got transferred to Economic Offences Wing since the scam exceeded Rs. 3 crore. Statements of 94 victims were recorded as evidence and the duo was arrested on Monday. Investigators found forged documents concerning the case at their residence, after which they were charged under relevant IPC sections.
