The Economic Offences Wing (Unit I) of the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested a builder for allegedly cheating 15 people ₹6.05 crore by promising flats in his project, Maple Viva, in the upcoming node, Ulwe.
The accused, identified as Jignesh Goradiya (36), is a resident of Vashi and runs Yushan Realty Ventures, a joint venture with his wife Pankti, at Satra Plaza building at Sector 19 in Vashi. Maple Ivy, Maple Viva, Maple Bellavue, and Maple Carniva are the projects undertaken by his firm. Investigations revealed that the project site of Maple Viva in Bellavue was not in Goradiya’s name.
The accused allegedly took around ₹6.05 crore from 15 people in 2015 and 2016 and promised to give them possession of the flats by November 2016. Pankti is a co-accused in the case and is yet to be arrested. The EOW is investigating four cases of cheating is registered against Goradiya at APMC police station and one at Nhava Sheva police station.
Assistant Police Inspector Mahadeo Gondhali from EOW-I said, “As the construction of the building started in 2012 and the investors believed that they would get the possession of their flats on the promised date. When construction on the project stopped, the investors started asking their money back. They registered a case for cheating against the builder when he started avoiding them.”
Goradiya was earlier arrested in May this by the APMC police for cheating another set of 15 people of ₹6 crore by promising them flats in Maple Ivy. He was arrested while he was preparing to flee the country.
Ram Chopde, Assistant Police Inspector, APMC police station said, “He secured bail in May itself after his first arrest. Now, he has been arrested for cheating again. He took money from the investors and used it to fund his personal investments and international trips. There are also two cheque bouncing cases registered against him in Ulhasnagar and Panvel.”
According to the police, a cheating case was filed against Goradiya in 2016, but the court had granted him anticipatory bail in the case. Goradiya has been arrested under Sections 406 (Criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.
