The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police has registered an FIR against the owners and senior management of Prateek Group, a Noida-based real estate company, following allegations of fraud by 20 homebuyers. The complaint, filed by buyers of Prateek Edifice in Sector 107, names owners Prashant and Prateek Tiwari, along with senior managers Sunil Kumar Mittal and Anshuman Sharma.
According to the police document, the developers orchestrated a fraud amounting to over Rs 1.9 billion. The complainants allege that the 423 flats sold in Edifice were 10-12% smaller than what they had been charged for.
"The flats delivered to us were significantly smaller in size than what was promised. An architect conducted a survey after we approached the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC). Additionally, the developers carried out unauthorized construction beyond the sanctioned plan," said Rajeev Goyal, a complainant.
Prateek Group is also accused of collecting Rs 128 million as one-time lease rent from flat owners, while the amount payable to the Noida Authority was only Rs 64 million. The buyers claim the developer did not pay the amount to the Authority and delayed the handover of flats. Goyal mentioned that the flat he booked in April 2012, promised for delivery in December 2015, was handed over only in February 2019, despite having paid 95% of the total cost by May 2016.
"We eventually received possession after NCDRC's intervention, but many promised facilities and amenities were not delivered. There were numerous defects and deficiencies in workmanship, construction, and fittings," Goyal added.
The FIR further alleges that Prateek Group collected over Rs 90 million from flat owners as Interest-Free Maintenance Security (IFMS) 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 connection, WiFi, cooking gas security, and sewer connections. Additionally, the builder charged Rs 188 million for purported water charge arrears.
The complainants accused the company of misusing prepaid sub-meters installed in flats to illegally recover charges for water and electricity. A spokesperson for Prateek Group stated that they had not yet received any communication from the police and noted that the flat owners who lodged the complaint have already been given possession. "Further action will be taken once we receive all the information," the spokesperson added.
(Source: ET)
