Mumbai: Couple booked for cheating home buyers with false flat promises

Rupesh Sawant (inset), working as a real estate agent, has been involved in cheating people for the past seven years. Representation pic

The Antop Hill police have registered a case against a couple accused of cheating several home buyers by luring them with flats at cheaper rates.

The main accused, Rupesh Sawant, has been arrested and released on bail, while his wife, Sneha, a teacher by profession, is currently on the run after her bail plea was rejected by the court.

According to the complainant, Sawant promised to rent him a flat in Dosti Emporium in Antop Hill area. However, after receiving the initial token amount, Sawant made various excuses to delay the process, claiming he needed time to remove his belongings and citing family emergencies. Eventually, he moved his mother-in-law and children into the flat and never vacated the premises.

The victim approached the police and filed an FIR against Rupesh and Sneha, leading to Rupesh's arrest from Antop Hill.

During the investigation, the police discovered that Sawant had a history of similar offences, with previous cases filed against him by the Kalachowkie, Byculla, Tardeo, Antop Hill, and Sion police stations. His modus operandi primarily revolves around duping people with false promises of providing flats under the MHADA scheme.

Senior PI Vivek Shende stated, "As soon as he was arrested, his wife, Sneha, applied for anticipatory bail, which was rejected by the High Court. Since then, she has been absconding."After his police custody ended, Sawant was released on bail and is being called in for further questioning. The police seized his phone in hopes of obtaining information about the extent of the couple's fraudulent activities.

Rupesh Sawant, working as a real estate agent, has been involved in cheating people for the past seven years. His wife, Sneha, is also suspected to be complicit in the crimes.

Senior PI Vivek Shende appealed to other potential victims, saying, "We suspect that he has duped many people in the past, but they are hesitant to come forward due to fear of not getting their money back. I urge people to come forward and file complaints against them."

A case has been registered against Rupesh Sawant under various sections of the IPC, including cheating, criminal intimidation, and common intention. As of now, Rupesh Sawant is out on bail and is scheduled for questioning by the police, while Sneha Sawant remains on the run after her anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the High Court.