Police have launched an investigation into an alleged housing scam in which more than 100 women were cheated of nearly Rs. 1.85 crore after being promised guaranteed homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) without any official draw process in Ahmedabad. Three individuals, including a father and son, have been named in the case registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
According to the complaint, the accused assured victims of direct allotment of houses under the central government housing scheme in return for advance “processing fees.” After collecting substantial amounts, they allegedly became untraceable.
The case was filed by Sunita Bhandari, who lives at Rang Sagar flats in Naranpura, reports said. She stated that her mother informed her about a man named Neel Madhav Patel, who was allegedly collecting application forms for PMAY homes and offering confirmed allotments.
Sunita told investigators that Neel Madhav claimed to own two-wheeler showrooms operating under the name Rajdeep Automobiles in CTM, Maninagar, and Surat’s Varachha Road area. He also allegedly said that his father, Dipakbhai Patel, was linked to Suman Developers, a firm that had secured a government contract to construct 1,000 houses. Out of these, he claimed, 150 homes were to be distributed under the PMAY scheme.
Neel Madhav reportedly directed Sunita and other applicants to coordinate with his associate, Ashish, for submitting the necessary forms. Trusting these representations, Sunita and more than 100 other women submitted applications and paid the demanded fees.
As per the complaint, Neel Madhav later assured Sunita that he could arrange a two-bedroom house for Rs. 11 lakh. Acting on this promise, her husband mortgaged their house in Paldi and took a loan of Rs. 3 lakh. An amount of Rs. 8 lakh was allegedly handed over in cash at the CTM showroom, where Neel Madhav, his father Dipakbhai, and his uncle Rajubhai Patel were present.
When the official PMAY draw was announced and the names of Sunita and other applicants were missing, Neel Madhav allegedly claimed he was involved in a dispute with his father but would still ensure the allotment. He also issued cheques to some victims, promising refunds if they wished to withdraw.
Soon after, his mobile phone was reportedly switched off. Subsequently, Dipakbhai Patel issued a public notice stating that he had no connection with his son’s transactions or assurances.
Police suspect that the accused employed similar methods to deceive multiple victims by falsely claiming the ability to provide direct house allotments under PMAY. The EOW has registered a case and begun a detailed probe, with officials indicating that the fraud could be larger in scale and may involve victims in other cities as well.
Also Read: Modi Govt 3.0: Cabinet Approves Construction of 3 Crore Houses Under PMAY https://www.vibesofindia.com/modi-govt-3-0-cabinet-approves-construction-of-3-crore-houses-under-pmay/
