Pune consumer group accuses builder of fraud

The city-based Akhil Bharathiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP) will lead a group of aggrieved apartment buyers in a protest demonstration against local real estate developer, Trishul Builders, in Koregaon Park on July 10.

In a press conference held in the city on Thursday, ABGP advisor Vijay Sagar claimed that the developer had allegedly cheated hundreds of flat buyers and failed to deliver their houses at the Shalini Lakeview project in Undri, despite taking money from them.

Sagar said that close to 500 customers had been denied possession of their flats in the developer’s Undri project. “These customers had paid down payments and have continued paying the EMIs with the belief that they will have the possession of their flats in March 2011, as per the promise made to them,” he said.

The consumer forum plans to file a case against Trishul Builders before the national commission in New Delhi. Meanwhile, the flat buyers have formed an ad hoc committee.

According to Sagar, the under construction building in Undri was demolished by the government authorities on December 25, 2010, as the land belonged to the Pune zilla parishad since 1978.

One of the flat buyers, Razak Shaikh, told DNA that they had not been informed about the demolition by the builder. “We read about it in the newspaper. If the land had legal issues, then how can they sell apartments to us?” Shaikh said.

The flat buyers also said that the police had not paid heed to their complaints. Vijay Shroff, who had booked a 2 BHK apartment said, “We went to the Abhiruchi police chowki, Haveli police station and Kondhwa police station and they did not register a first information report (FIR).”

Some of the flat buyers who were present at the press conference also said that a few cheques paid by Trishul Builders had bounced. “Not only did the cheques bounce, the builder offered us flats in their new site, named Shalini Heights Phase 2, on NIBM Road,” Shaikh said.

When contacted on telephone, Trishul Builders owner Hemant Buddhiwant denied all the allegations and termed it a conspiracy by rivals and politically driven people.

Buddhiwant said, “We are fighting a case in the high court regarding the Shalini Lake plot. The demolition came as a shock to us, as we had met with all the legalities before we purchased the plot.”

He also denied that the flat purchasers had been kept in the dark. “Our clients were informed about all the proceedings. They are being misguided,” Buddhiwant said.

According to Buddhiwant, the customers who had claimed their money had got it, while the rest had been asked to wait. “I have received only 15-20 complaints. Most of my clients have faith in us. The protestors have been influenced by our rivals,” he said.