The Panvel city police team on Friday arrested a Mumbai-based builder, Suresh Bhatade in a cheating case, two months after he went absconding. Bhatade and three other builders are accused of allegedly selling six flats collectively worth Rs4.3 crore.Pioneer CHS in Panvel had in August complained to the police after six out of their 10 flats were illegally sold and registered without their knowledge. The other builder trio had moved anticipatory bail plea before the sessions court in Panvel. The builders into redevelopment of the CHS since 2014, had given occupation of flats without obtaining occupancy certificate from the PCMC.
The Pioneer CHS had in September 2012 entered into a redevelopment agreement with Akshay Developers in Panvel, with Sunita Joshi (a retired assistant commissioner – income tax) and late Nirmala Shah as partners. The redevelopment work started in 2014. Joshi and Shah had entered into a partnership agreement with Mumbai-based builders Suresh Bhatade and Bhavesh Jain.
The Pioneer CHS had 46 flats earlier. Post redevelopment, the building had become a ground plus 12-storey high rise with 96 flats and nine shops. As per the supplementary agreement signed between Pioneer CHS and Akshay Developers in October 2015, the Pioneer CHS had 10 flats (out of 96) more.
The Pioneer CHS treasurer Gangaram Samant had lodged a police complaint about the builders selling out six (five 2-BHK and one 1BHK) flats without obtaining any permission in July 2022 and March 2023. There are allegations about the builders defaulting in paying them rent (paid during redevelopment time), carpet area, not obtaining OC, not registering flat of earlier members among others.
The accused were initially booked for cheating, criminal breach of trust, common intention under IPC but later section IPC 409 (selling others’ property in possession by breaching trust) and various sections of Maharashtra Ownership of Flats Act-1963 was invoked, said the Panvel city police. The anticipatory bail applications of Joshi and Jain are being heard by an additional sessions court, Panvel Judge KG Paldewar. The court will hear their pleas again this week.
