Bengaluru: Builders Allegedly Sell Six Flats to Multiple Buyers Using Forged Documents

BENGALURU: In a shocking case of alleged fraud, a south Bengaluru-based auditor and five others have accused three brothers running a real estate firm of selling six flats in an apartment complex to multiple buyers using forged documents.

An FIR has been lodged by the Banashankari police following a complaint from 53-year-old S. Vidyasagar, an auditor, and resident of RRBC Pratham apartment complex in Banashankari II Stage.

The accused have been identified as Ranjit Sha and Mitesh Sha, directors of Rajarajeshware Builddcon Pvt Ltd, located at Nettakallappa Circle, Basavanagudi, and their brother, Harish Sha, the company’s authorized signatory.

According to Vidyasagar, he purchased one of the 20 flats in the apartment complex in March 2023 for ₹1.2 crore and took possession in October of the same year.

However, he was in for a rude shock when he approached a bank for a loan. The bank’s records revealed that the flat he had purchased had already been sold to another party back in 2021, during the construction phase of the project.

Further investigation revealed that in 2021, the developers had sold six flats, including Vidyasagar’s, to a single family. Additionally, they executed sale deeds for five other flats to different individuals who were unaware of the prior agreements.

Vidyasagar issued a legal notice to the builders, questioning their actions and demanding an explanation for selling the same flat to multiple buyers.

Despite assurances from the builders that the issue would be resolved, no action was taken. This prompted Vidyasagar and five others, who were similarly affected, to file a criminal complaint.

“We have even installed a cautionary board on the apartment building, alerting people about how six flats were fraudulently sold to multiple buyers,” Vidyasagar told TOI.

Banashankari police confirmed that they have received complaints from all six flat owners and are in the process of gathering the necessary documentation.

“The FIR was registered based on Vidyasagar’s complaint. Statements from the other five owners will be added to the same case.

Once all relevant documents are collected, we will issue notices to both the victims and the suspects to record their statements. After completing this process, we will file the chargesheet,” a police officer stated.

This case highlights the alarming extent of fraudulent activities in the real estate sector, leaving victims to navigate the legal complexities to seek justice.