Mumbai: Senior Citizen Duped of Rs 18 Lakh in Flat Purchase Scam; Accused Arrested After 1.5 Years

A senior citizen was allegedly duped of ₹18 lakh by a fraudster who promised a flat at a discounted rate in an under-construction MMRDA building at Jogeshwari. After remaining absconding for nearly one-and-a-half years, the wanted accused, Ramesh Balu Waghchaure alias Ramesh Patil, was finally arrested by the MHB police.

According to police officials, Ramesh had introduced himself as an engineer with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and assured the victim of securing a flat through his connections. Following his arrest, Waghchaure was produced before a local court in Borivali, which remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days. Police also revealed that another man, Ganesh Ratan Sonawane, is a co-accused in this case.

The complainant, a 62-year-old retired LIC employee from Borivali, had been acquainted with Sonawane for over six years. Sonawane, known to the victim as a MHADA agent, had built a reputation for helping people secure affordable flats under MHADA and MMRDA schemes.

Acting on this trust, Sonawane informed the senior citizen about an ongoing MMRDA housing project in Jogeshwari, offering him a one-room kitchen flat worth ₹30 lakh for a discounted price of ₹28 lakh. Believing the deal to be genuine, the complainant paid a total of ₹26.5 lakh in installments to Sonawane and Waghchaure.

Despite repeated assurances, the flat was never handed over. When the victim demanded a refund, the accused returned ₹8.5 lakh but withheld the remaining ₹18 lakh and allegedly misappropriated the funds. Realizing the deception, the senior citizen lodged a complaint against both Sonawane and Waghchaure at the MHB police station.

A case of cheating was registered, and both accused had gone into hiding. After a prolonged search lasting over 18 months, the police finally apprehended Waghchaure. Sources suggest that the duo may be involved in similar fraud cases.