Thane couple running realty firm booked for cheating businessman of 28.5 crore
Sanjay Bhalerao and his wife Pratima allegedly fabricated documents to show the complainant as the owner of some flats in their venture but later sold those properties (Representational Image)
Police have booked a couple running a real estate firm in Thane for allegedly cheating 71-year-old businessman to the tune of Rs 28.5 crore.
The complainant, Mumbai-based aluminium trader Vijay Agrawal, came in contact with the accused – Sanjay Bhalerao and his wife Pratima Bhalerao – through a common friend in 2011.
According to officials, the couple managed to convince Agarwal to invest in their real estate business by promising lucrative returns.
However, they allegedly fabricated documents to show Agrawal as the owner of some flats in their venture but later sold those properties, causing a loss of around Rs 28.59 crore to the complainant, a police spokesperson said.
Based on the complaint, the couple was booked on Wednesday under various Indian Penal Code sections for cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery and criminal conspiracy.
No arrest has been made so far and further probe is underway, the spokesperson added.
