Delhi Police files FIR against Noida-based Prateek Group

01 Jul 2024

Twenty purchasers accused the Noida-based realtor of defrauding them, leading the Delhi Police's economic offences division to file a formal complaint (FIR) against the owners and top management of Prateek Group. Following a complaint from the 20 purchasers of Prateek Edifice in Sector 107, the owners Prashant and Prateek Tiwari, as well as top managers Sunil Kumar Mittal and Anshuman Sharma, were identified in the First Information Report (FIR). The police document claims that the developers planned a scam involving around Rs 1.90 billion.

The 423 apartments sold at Edifice, according to the complainants, were 10-12% smaller than what they had been paid for.

"The apartments that were delivered to us were far smaller than what had been promised. After we filed a complaint against the developer with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), an architect was hired to conduct a study. In addition to giving us smaller apartments, they continued building without our permission, according to Rajeev Goyal, one of the complainants.

The realtor also postponed the apartments' delivery. Goyal stated that he was guaranteed ownership of the flat he had reserved in April 2012, but it was moved up by a year. Nevertheless, Goyal stated he had paid 95% of the entire fee by May 2016; yet, the unit was not delivered until February 2019. " After the NCDRC requested that the developer turn over the apartments within three weeks, we were eventually given possession. Numerous services and conveniences that were promised to us were not provided. Goyal said, "There were numerous unfinished projects, flaws in the building, finishing, fittings, and fixtures in the apartments, and a lot of unfinished work."

According to the FIR, Prateek Group allegedly received over Rs 9 crore in interest-free maintenance security (IFMS) payments from apartment owners but did not refund this amount to the association of owners despite notices from the Authority. The developer also charged more for grid electricity, meter connections, WiFi, cooking gas security, and sewer connections, buyers claimed.

According to the FIR, despite warnings from the Authority, Prateek Group allegedly collected over Rs 9 crore from apartment owners as interest-free maintenance security, or IFMS, but failed to return the money to the association of owners. Buyers also alleged that the developer overcharged for sewage connections, cooking gas security, WiFi, metre connections, and grid power.

Although standard prepaid electricity submeters were calibrated and powered on in April 2019, according to Goyal, developers began to recoup fixed prices for grid and distributed generation power starting in January 2019. According to the FIR, the builder allegedly demanded payment of Rs 1.8.8 million for alleged arrears of water charges.The firm was accused by the complainants of illegally recovering water and power rates by misusing prepaid submeters installed in apartments.

A spokesperson for Prateek Group said the developer had not received any communication from police so far. ?The flat owners who lodged the complaint have already been given possession of flats. Additionally, registration and possession of flats are over. Further action will be taken once we get all the information,? the spokesperson added.

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