The desire to have a bigger house and an offer from a childhood friend of two 225sq ft MHADA flats at low rates in Andheri East, tempted a Colaba-based businessman to shell out Rs 20 lakh (between September 2010 and February 2011). Sadly, the flats were non-existent.

After seven years of running around, pursuing his friend and others to return the money, in 2016, the complainant filed a private complaint before the Esplanade Court. The court last month directed the Colaba police to register an FIR (a copy is with this paper) in the case.