Advocate Mohan Tekawde argued on behalf of Lakhani that the owners had never intended to complete construction. Other flat buyers had been duped too, he argued.u00a0

Defending the case, the Mehtas’ lawyer Mallika Ingale contended that Lakhani had ignored several notices demanding payments, after which the agreement was cancelled on October 20, 1999. Ingale added that at best, the case was a civil dispute.