In a significant real estate fraud case, the Manpada Police in Dombivli have filed a First Information Report against five individuals, including a builder, for allegedly duping 65 prospective homebuyers of over ₹93.80 lakh by falsely promising affordable housing. The complaint was lodged by 25-year-old Aachal Raju Gupta, a resident of Dombivli West, who stated that she was attracted through a social media advertisement offering low-cost flats. Acting on her statement, the police have initiated legal proceedings and begun a comprehensive investigation into what is suspected to be a systematically planned housing scam targeting unsuspecting buyers seeking budget-friendly homes in the area.
According to the complaint, Gupta came across an Instagram advertisement under the name ‘Janhvi Property’, which promoted 1BHK and 2BHK flats at unusually low prices ranging between ₹5 lakh and ₹7 lakh. Intrigued by the offer, she and her husband visited the project site at Dhamtan Gaon in Dombivli East on February 14, 2026. The site was showcased as an under-construction housing project named ‘Sai Mauli Chawl’. During the visit, an individual identified as Kadam allegedly showed them a 2BHK unit and finalised a deal worth ₹7.5 lakh, convincing them of the project’s legitimacy and prompting them to proceed with the transaction.
Gupta initially paid ₹1,000 as a booking amount and subsequently transferred a total of ₹2.85 lakh through a combination of Google Pay transactions and cash payments on different dates. The accused allegedly issued receipts and related documents for each payment, which appeared genuine and helped build the complainant’s trust in the deal. These assurances encouraged her to continue making payments without suspecting foul play. The structured payment process and documentation created an impression of authenticity, leading the victim to believe that the property purchase was legitimate and progressing as promised by the individuals involved in the scheme.
On February 26, the accused executed what they claimed to be a valid sale agreement through a notary, presenting it as a legally binding document. However, inconsistencies later emerged, raising doubts about its authenticity. The paperwork reportedly lacked crucial identification details, including the builder’s Aadhaar information, which is typically required in legitimate property transactions. These irregularities triggered suspicion and suggested that the documents may have been fabricated to mislead buyers. The questionable agreement further indicated that the entire operation was carefully designed to appear lawful while concealing fraudulent intentions behind seemingly proper documentation.
The alleged scam came to light after repeated delays in handing over possession. Gupta was asked multiple times to collect the keys to her flat, but each scheduled date was postponed without clear reasons. On April 11, 2026, when she revisited the site with her husband, they found that neither the builder nor any authorised representative was present. To their shock, 64 other individuals were also at the location, each claiming to have been cheated in a similar manner. This collective realisation exposed the scale of the fraud, revealing that numerous buyers had been misled using identical tactics and false assurances.
Following the revelations, the police registered a case against Sachin Sambhaji Surve, Kadam, Waghmare, Nikhil Kadlag, and Ravindra Yadav. Authorities have launched a search operation to trace the accused, who are currently absconding, and are examining the wider network involved in the fraudulent scheme. Investigators are working to determine whether more victims were targeted through similar advertisements. Meanwhile, police have advised citizens to exercise caution while engaging in property deals, urging them to verify documents thoroughly and avoid offers that seem unrealistically attractive, as such schemes often mask fraudulent activities aimed at exploiting buyers.