Fraud in Rajkot: Builders Cheated 19 Homebuyers & disappeared with Rs. 2.4 crore

A complaint was filed by Rama Gadhiya, a retired employee of the state-run Pashchim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL), against Manish Kariya and Sanjay Bhandari, who allegedly defrauded her of Rs. 35 lakhs.

Gadhiya is among at least 19 victims in Junagadh, who collectively lost Rs. 2.43 crore in a real estate scam involving the two men.

According to the complaint, Gadhiya and 18 other victims were tricked into investing in a residential project. After retiring in 2023, Gadhiya sought to buy a home using her gratuity and PF funds.

She met Kariya and Bhandari, who offered her a three-BHK duplex in their 'Moon Light project on Chobari Road for Rs. 26 lakhs, which included both the plot and construction costs.

After negotiations, Gadhiya agreed to buy one house for Rs. 24 lakh and two others for Rs. 48 lakhs, making an advance payment of Rs. 35 lakhs with plans to secure an additional loan of Rs. 13 lakh.

The developers promised to complete the construction by November 2024, but when Gadhiya visited their office in November to check the progress, they requested more time.

On December 3, both developers went unreachable, with their phones switched off and the office closed. Gadhiya later discovered that 18 others had been similarly cheated by the duo. The victims have now demanded strict action and legal recourse to recover their losses.