EOW plans to name & shame tainted builders

The Housing Unit of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai police department is preparing a list of builders involved in alleged mass cheating in the Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Palghar areas. The list will be published on public forums and awareness programmes will be conducted so that people know of their dodgy reputation and don't get trapped in fraudulent schemes.

According to EOW, the list will include builders accused of cheating homebuyers by offering lucrative schemes and delaying possession of flats. The EOW has also filed cases against builders violating Floor Space Index (FSI) norms.

That list includes at least 60 small and big builders.

"Apart from making the list public, we will also spread awareness about the modus operandi of such builders," said an EOW officer, adding, "Once a buyer is cheated by a builder, it takes a long time for him or her to recover the money as the related trial and returning of money takes at least five years."

EOW is also cracking down on builders who sell one flat to multiple people and later shut down their offices.

"Awareness programs will be conducted at housing expos," says police inspector Santosh Raut of EOW, "Our aim is to prevent home buyers from being duped in the name of lucrative schemes. Also, it is important that all agencies come together to crack down on fraudulent builders and construction companies."