The Bhandup police have arrested two women for allegedly defrauding more than 16 people of over Rs 1.57 crore by posing as agents of a government housing redevelopment scheme. The accused, identified as Lakshmi Kisan Bande, 55, and Nita Ankush Saraikar, 40, allegedly lured victims with the promise of subsidised MMRDA flats and took lakhs of rupees from each family.
According to the police, the accused claimed that affordable homes under the MMRDA’s slum redevelopment projects were available for as little as Rs 8 lakh per unit. They promised quick possession and showed prospective buyers so-called “vacant” flats in Kurla and Kanjurmarg. To gain the victims’ trust, they allegedly made them sign stamp papers and collected their photographs, creating the appearance of a legitimate housing transaction.
The complainants, many of whom are domestic workers and daily wage earners, sold their existing properties, mortgaged family jewellery, and took personal loans to gather money. One of the victims, Meera Sudanna Kamble, reported losing Rs 39.5 lakh alone after selling her home and mortgaging ornaments to buy four flats for her sons. In all, 16 investors paid amounts ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 28 lakh, as detailed in the FIR, which lists a total of Rs 1,57,75,500 collected by the two women between January and November 2023.
Police said the women initially gave repeated false assurances about the houses being ready for handover within a month, then issued post-dated cheques to buy time, and instructed the victims not to present those cheques in the bank. In at least one case, the complainant alleged she was pressured by the accused to lie to police about the amount involved.
“There are no such schemes involving private agents collecting money in cash for redevelopment allotments, and hence we urge citizens to verify all housing schemes through official channels before putting any amount in anything,” said a police official. Bhandup police are investigating the case under sections of cheating, breach of trust, and criminal conspiracy. Both the accused have multiple cases against them in police stations across the city and outside.
