The Jethwas allegedly posed as developers and lured buyers with fake permissions, fabricated documents and false assurances of timely possession
Police said over six criminal cases are registered against the duo at the Kasturba Marg Police Station alone. PIC VIA SAMIULLAH KHAN
The Kasturba Marg Police have arrested a builder and his son for allegedly duping dozens of investors and homebuyers of several crores by promising flats that were never delivered. The accused, Ashok Jethwa (55) and his son Mihir Jethwa (35), were traced to a hotel in Ernakulam and brought to Mumbai by Zone 12’s special team on Tuesday.
Police said over six criminal cases are registered against the duo at the Kasturba Marg Police Station alone, with additional FIRs at the Borivali and MHB police stations. The Jethwas allegedly posed as developers and lured buyers with fake permissions, fabricated documents and false assurances of timely possession.
The cases at Kasturba Marg include:
CR 177/25 (Rs 1.17 crore), CR 488/25 (Rs 1.51 crore), CR 351/25 (Rs 1.74 crore), CR 852/23 (MPID Act) (Rs 13.52 crore), CR 288/23 (Rs 75 lakh) and CR 108/23 (Rs 1.20 crore.
At Borivali Police Station, CR 75/21, CR 464/24 (conditional bail granted) and CR 42/24 have been filed. At MHB Police Station, CR 356/23 is registered.
One complainant, a 50-year-old businessman from Khar West, alleged that he was cheated of Rs 1.74 crore after booking three flats in a redevelopment project under Triveni Developers at Navkar Bhavan, Borivali East. He told police the Jethwas claimed the building plan was approved for 10 floors, that an application for three more floors had been submitted to the BMC, and that the project was RERA registered. They also promised possession by December 31, 2018.
The complainant booked Flats 1301, 1302 and 1303, paying Rs 1,74,89,910 by RTGS and cheques between 2016 and 2018. A 24 per cent interest return was also assured in case of delay. But by December 2018, he found that construction had stopped after six floors, and the accused allegedly refused to return his money.
Police said the Jethwas operated a 'systematic fraud,' collecting large sums from multiple buyers while abandoning the projects. Officers said the duo frequently evaded arrest by using fake Aadhaar cards and travelling under false identities across various states.
Acting on a tip-off, the DCP’s special squad located the accused at a hotel in Ernakulam on Sunday night and detained them. Further investigation is underway, and more victims are expected to come forward.
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