Kurla resident booked for falsely claiming BMC flat ownership

BMC notice at the complainant’s home. Pic/By Special Arrangement

A Kurla resident has been booked by Govandi police for allegedly duping a film-industry light technician of Rs 22 lakh by falsely claiming ownership of a BMC-allotted flat.

Police said complainant Sajid Shaikh, 34, was searching for a rental home in Govandi in 2023 when he was introduced to the accused through a relative. The man allegedly claimed a room in Samarpan CHS had been allotted to him by BMC in 2012 and showed electricity bills and tax receipts to support the claim.

Sajid and his wife moved in November 2023 after paying a Rs 22 lakh deposit for a 36-month agreement and lived there for seven months believing the tenancy was legal.

On June 6, 2024, BMC officials with police visited and informed them the flat had never been allotted to the accused, forcing them to vacate immediately.

"Our belongings and we were suddenly on the road. We already had EMIs to pay, no savings left, and nowhere to go," Sajid said.

When he sought a refund, the accused allegedly issued a Rs 23 lakh cheque that bounced, prompting him to approach police.