A 53-year-old man promised affordable flats to dozens of homebuyers and even took advance from each of them after showing just an empty plot in Raigad district. The people realised they were conned after seeing no signs of construction for years. Navi Mumbai police's Crime Branch arrested the alleged conman on Wednesday, following complaints from the buyers.

Santosh Kumar Jayprakash Singh, the accused, collected Rs 67.10 lakh from at least 24 people after showing them a sample of the flats he claimed he would be building on the site at Talegaon Wadi in Khalapur, according to the police.