Pune Housing scheme fraud: Maple directors quizzed by EOW, its accounts frozen

Read | Pune fraudulent housing advertising: Case filed against Maple Group officials; Girish Bapat vows strict action 

Two of the bank accounts of company related to the particular scheme have also been frozen and the company banned from doing any transaction on the land related to the project.

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On April 7, advertisements started appearing in sections of both electronic and print media and on outdoor flex boards of what the company called ‘Maharashtra Housing Day’ on May 1, which also happens to be Maharashtra Day. The advertisements promised a “One Bedroom Hall Kitchen” flat for Rs 5 lakh. The company website has a video of Sachin Agarwal, described as its chairman and managing director, where he is seen inviting people to fill forms for the lucky draw. “We are planning to build 10,000 homes at 12 locations in the city. We expect around 50,000 to 70,000 applications. Every applicant will have to pay Rs 1,000. Out of these, 10,000 will be chosen through a lucky draw. People will have to pay an EMI of Rs 5,000 after the possession. The 1BHK flat is of 302 square feet area. The chief minister has promised to attend the function,” Agarwal is seen saying in the video.

The website also says, “Our mission is to have roof over every Indian’s head”.

Trouble arose for the company when many people, including BJP MP Kirit Somaiya and city-based activist Vijay Kumbhar, wrote to the Centre objecting to the use of pictures of the PM, CM and Pune’s guardian minister Girish Bapat on the advertisements.

Some of these advertisements also allegedly claimed that the project was part of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

Subsequently, the state government ordered the company to stop the registration while the Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority (MHADA) initiated an inquiry.

On Tuesday night, an FIR was lodged at Shivajinagar police station against Sachin Ashok Agarwal and with Naveen Ashok Agarwal, described as managing director, and one Priyanka Agarwal and others under sections 420, 417 (Cheating), 120 (b) (Criminal Conspiracy), 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The FIR was registered on the basis of a letter issued by Nirmal Deshmukh, mission director of Pradhan Pantri Awas Yojana, which said the company’s claims were misleading.

Late on Tuesday night, the probe was handed over the to the EOW of Pune city police.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Deepak Sakore of the EOW said, “Our probe will cover land dealings, permissions taken and other angles. The company has taken Rs 1,000 as application fees, which they cannot do. We will also look into these aspects.”

Asked why Sachin Agarwal was not arrested despite the police spotting him at a news channel’s office, Sakore said, “As of now, we are conducting our probe. Arrests may be made as and when necessary.”

Late Wednesday evening, the Maple Group issued a statement promising to refund the application money to all applicants and tendering an apology to the PM, CM and the district guardian minister Girish Bapat for “any harm/inconvenience caused to them due the wrong perception caused by the advertisement and if there are some inadvertent mistakes we are willing to take necessary corrective action.”

Cong, NCP, MNS close ranks to attack BJP in PMC.

Meanwhile, in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Wednesday, corporators took a dig at Pune’s guardian minister Girish Bapat and other BJP leaders over their alleged proximity with the directors of the Maple group.

PMC’s general body meeting saw stormy scenes over the issue, with corporators from ruling NCP and Congress, along with the MNS, seeking an adjournment.

MNS leader Rajendra Wagaskar said, “It was unfortunate that the photographs of PM and CM were used by the company for the scheme’s promotion. There was no objections raised by the state government over the use of photographs until the MNS staged an agitation.”

NCP’s Shankar Kemse said while action should be taken against the directors of the Maple group, the BJP leaders having proximity to them should also be taken to task.

BJP’s Ganesh Bidkar, who allegedly has links with the Maple group directors, stayed away from the meeting.

BJP’s Dhananjay Jadhav said his party could not be criticised over the matter. “The company had not taken permission for using photographs of prime minister, chief minister and guardian minister in the advertisement, so it has to face the action. Also, the issue was first raised by BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, which means the party is working to check such wrong practices,” he said.

(With inputs from Partha Sarathi Biswas and Ajay Khape)