Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police has arrested a couple for allegedly swindling crores of rupees by duping 300-350 investors through their fraudulent real estate firm.
The accused, Shailender and Vijaylaxmi Tiwari, used to deal in sale and purchase of unauthorised properties. Police received a complaint from 29 victims that they had been lured by “Tiwari Buildtech Private Ltd” into booking plots at cheap rates. “The complainants paid the sale consideration to the accused, but never received any confirmed registry information. Many of the victims belonged to lower-income groups,” said Vikram K Porwal, deputy commissioner of police (EOW).
The accused had published advertisements in newspapers and engaged agents for bookings. “After collecting up to Rs 2.5 crore, they never got back to the clients and kept delaying the matter on one pretext or the other,” said police.
The couple allegedly began selling land bought from farmers without observing any legal formalities. “Plots situated in Sonipat, Narela and Loni were sold without changing land use from agricultural to residential purposes,” police said. Many victims who made payment in cash were not even given receipts.
A case under relevant IPC sections was registered and teams conducted raids at suspected hideouts and at the couple’s home in Gorakhpur. But they were on the run, police said. Finally they were traced in Ahmedabad and arrested. “The accused are currently under custody remand while further investigation is on,” police said.
Police have advised people to verify the details of ownership of any land from government/RERA agencies before making any investment.