EOW seeks Orbit chief’s custody in Rs 2.5cr cheating case

MUMBAI: The economic offences wing of the city police, probing cheating cases against developer Pujit Aggarwal, has filed an application before a court to take him in its custody in a Rs 2.5 crore cheating case.
According to a complaint lodged by Taro Vazirani, 73, Aggarwal, managing director of Orbit Constructions, lured him into investing Rs 2.5 crore in their project, The Angel-2 at Gamdevi, promising him 15% interest.However, the builder’s cheques to repay the money bounced. Later Aggarwal allegedly promised to give Vazirani, who has shipping business, a flat on the 52nd floor in his Lower Parel project. However, the project had permission only up to 20 floors.
Vazirani, a Peddar Road resident, lodged an FIR with Gamdevi police on September 19 against Aggarwal and two others—Surendra Yadav and Deepak Sanghvi. “Aggarwal paid Rs 76 lakh to the complainant and issued cheques too. However, the cheques bounced due to insufficient funds. Later, Aggarwal offered him a flat on the 52nd floor in his project, Orbit Terrace. Upon inquiries, Vazirani learnt that Aggarwal had permission for 20 storeys only,” said a police source.
Sources said Aggarwal issued several post-dated cheques to the complainant to settle the matter. The complainant had not got his money back till the time he filed FIR. “We have filed an application before the court seeking Aggarwal’s cusotody. He is currently in EOW’s custody in another cheating case. Once his custody is over, we are hoping to take him in our custody and arrest him in this case,” said the officer.
The EOW has registered four cases against Aggarwal and he is being arrested in all the cases one by one. He was first arrested by Azad Maidan police in a Rs 2.53 crore cheating case last month.