25 May,2026 09:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya Iyer
The accused allegedly offered the couple a flat in Amboli at lower than market rates. Representation pic/Satej Shinde
An Andheri-based couple allegedly lost over Rs 30 lakh after being duped into purchasing what they believed was an affordable SRA flat in Amboli. Police said the fraud was executed over several months using forged documents, fake registration formalities, and access to an actual flat in an SRA building to make the deal appear genuine.
The DN Nagar police arrested Rahul Rajendra Tiwari, one of the main accused, after he had remained absconding for nearly a month. Police said two other accused, Mahesh Tiwari and Mahesh Karande, are still absconding.
According to police, complainant Tayamma Mallesh Dhangar and her husband had been searching for an affordable SRA or MHADA flat in Andheri when they allegedly came in contact with the accused through relatives.
In March 2025, the accused allegedly called the couple to a hotel in Goregaon and offered them a flat in Om Sai SRA Cooperative Housing Society in Amboli for Rs 45 lakh, lower than market rates. Police said notarised documents were prepared, and the couple allegedly paid Rs 10 lakh as token money.
The accused later allegedly showed the victims Flat No. 1604 on the 16th floor of the SRA building. Convinced the property was genuine, the couple allegedly paid another Rs 20.50 lakh in instalments. "They deliberately used an actual flat in a real SRA building to gain the victims' confidence and create the impression that the transaction was legal," a police officer said.
According to police, the accused allegedly staged biometric and registration procedures to further legitimise the fraud. In July 2025, the couple was allegedly called for biometric formalities related to the registration. However, after reaching the location, they were reportedly told that the process could not be completed due to server issues.
Police said that in September, Mahesh Karande was introduced as the person handling biometric and documentation formalities. A few days later, the accused allegedly handed over keys and documents to the victims, making them believe possession had been completed.
The fraud surfaced after the couple revisited the property and found the flat sealed from the outside. On verifying the papers with the SRA office, they allegedly discovered that all documents were forged.
Following the complaint, DN Nagar police registered a case against Rahul Tiwari, Mahesh Tiwari and Mahesh Karande under sections related to cheating, criminal breach of trust and forgery. Police are now probing whether the accused used a similar modus operandi to target other buyers searching for affordable housing under SRA or MHADA schemes. Investigators are also examining how the accused allegedly gained access to the SRA flat shown to the victims and whether vacant or disputed rehabilitation units were misused in similar frauds.
