No judicial relief, Ahuja Constructions directors were detained in the cheque-bouncing case.

Following their conviction in a cheque-bouncing case in March 2021, the city crime branch arrested two directors of Mumbai-based Ahuja Constructions, 71-year-old builder Jagdish Bhagwandas Ahuja and his son Gautam Ahuja (42), on Friday. Because of the pandemic scenario at the time, no measures were taken to imprison them. They did not contest their conviction.

On Friday afternoon, the two were apprehended near the Bombay High Court. Ahuja Constructions is well-known in Central Mumbai and the western suburbs for its distinctive luxury constructions.

Last March, the 14th Metropolitan Magistrate Court convicted and sentenced them to six months in uncomplicated imprisonment.

They were also ordered to pay Rs 14.7 lakh in compensation to the petitioner within 30 days, or face another three months of simple imprisonment. The complainant is a Breach Candy resident who filed a lawsuit against Ahuja Properties and Developers and its two directors, Jagdish and Gautam Ahuja, under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instrument Act.

In October 2015, the accused sought the complainant for a “friendly loan” of Rs 10 lakh on the condition that it be repaid within 12 months with a 20.4 percent interest rate. He agreed to make the loan because the complainant was a family friend.

The complainant further said that the accused paid two quarterly interest payments on time. However, the cheque for the third quarterly payment of interest was returned unpaid. This led the complainant to lodge a complaint. According to the conviction ruling, he indicated that two cheques for the fourth quarterly interest were likewise returned due to “insufficient balance.”

According to property market sources, many complaints have been launched against the construction firm and its directors in various courts for alleged cheque bouncing.

According to city police, the duo was also arrested under the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Act.  A couple from Pune accused them of scamming them of Rs 2 crore.