Mumbai Crime: Posing as builder's partner, man cheats couple of Rs 15 L

An ongoing construction project of Omkar Builders in Kurla's Match Factory lane set the stage for a fraudster to dupe a couple into paying him for a ‘cheap flat' in the project.

Ravindra Waghcoure

Claiming to be a partner in the construction firm, he made a couple an offer they couldn't refuse a flat in the complex for a mere Rs 15 lakh. Lured by this offer, Dipesh Tiwari and his wife, the victims, showed interest and fell for Waghcoure's ‘offer.

Waghcoure first got acquainted with the couple to gain their trust and showered them with convincing assurances. He even presented them with forged agreements to make the deal official and to avoid any suspicion.

With the hope of getting a new flat in their name, they paid Waghcoure the money he demanded in instalments. Inspector S B Jagdale from Kurla police station said, "There is an under-construction project of the builder in Kurla in Match Factory lane.

The accused took advantage of this and got acquainted with the family by convincing them that he is a partner in Omkar Builders. He assured them that he would get them a flat for Rs 15 lakh."

It was only when the couple visited the construction site to show the apartment to some relatives that they came to know that they have been duped. They enquired with the officials at the site, who informed them that no person called Waghcoure is a partner with Omkar Builders.

Tiwari then asked the crook to return his money. Sensing that his cover had been blown, the accused started ignored the victim's calls, after which they reported the matter to the police station. "Waghcoure intended to extract some more money out of the complainant, but his plan was revealed.

However, we are trying to get details whether the accused has cheated any other parties. We have registered the offence and have arrested the accused," Jagdale added. The accused was arrested yesterday, and has been booked under sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will) 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of the Indian Penal Code, and will be produced in the Kurla court today.