Two directors of M/s Darode Jog Builder Private Limited, a city-based construction company, were booked on Friday after a complaint was lodged claiming that the duo cheated 18 retired bank officials of Rs 2.29 crore by failing to deliver them their flats in a redevelopment scheme on Paud Road in Kothrud.
The police filed a case against the two directors — Sudhir Chandrakant Darode and Anand Dhundiraj Jog — under the provisions of cheating, criminal breach of trust and also under the provisions of the Maharashtra Ownership of Flat Act (MOFA).
Repeated attempts were made to reach Jog on his cellphone, but he did not answer the calls. Nor did he reply to the text message sent to him. His legal advisor, on the condition of anonymity, said he did not wish to comment on the said case. Darode could not be contacted.
Senior police inspector Pratibha Joshi of the Kothrud police said retired bank officer Heramb Dattatray Tanksale (69), a resident of Law College Road, lodged a complaint stating that 18 retired bank officials had come together and constructed a society on Paud Road many years ago. They decided to redevelop it in 2012 and then approached the Darode-Jog builders, Joshi said.
According to the FIR, in August 2012, the 18 people and the builders made an agreement and a power of authority was executed in favour of the builders. The builders were supposed to hand over the possession of the flats to the 18 retired bank officials in 27 months.
“According to the agreement, the builder was supposed to provide house rent (which has been tabulated to Rs67.52 lakh) to the 18 people for 27 months,” Joshi said.
The complainants claimed that as the builder had not given the possession of the flats to them, he would have to pay a fine of Rs94 lakh as per the agreement, besides Rs18 lakh towards the society’s sinking fund. The complainants also sought Rs50 lakh towards the non-payment of bank guarantee and claimed that they were thus cheated to the tune of Rs2.29 crore, Joshi said.
She said the builder had constructed the building and its floors were ready. But the interiors, such as tiles, water pipes and other facilities, had not been installed in the past few years. “These retired people waited for four years and then decided to lodge a complaint,” she said.
