Real Estate Director Arrested for Fraudulent Permits Scam in Thane

Thane, Sep 1 (PTI) Police have taken into custody the director of a prominent real-estate firm on charges of deceiving numerous buyers out of several crores by selling apartments constructed using fraudulent permits in Thane district, Maharashtra, officials announced on Monday. Umrao Singh Prithviraj Ostwal, director of Ostwal Builders Pvt Ltd, allegedly crafted fake revised construction permits and maps, presenting them as bona fide documents, according to an official release from the Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar police. Employing false approvals, he is accused of constructing additional units beyond the sanctioned limits in Ostwal Paradise Building No. 6, located in the Mira Bhayander area, and sold them to unsuspecting buyers, thereby defrauding them of crores of rupees.

A formal complaint was filed on May 16 this year at Nayanagar Police Station under legal provisions covering cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and conspiracy, the release noted. The probe, helmed by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), pointed to Ostwal's direct role in these fraudulent undertakings, according to the police. When crime branch officials arrived at Ostwal's residence in the Mira Bhayander area on Saturday, he attempted to flee but was captured following a brief pursuit and subsequently handed over to the EOW, the release highlighted.

Further investigation revealed that 13 criminal cases are registered against him across multiple police stations, including Navghar, Mira Road, Nayanagar, and Kashimira in Thane, it added. Authorities have urged the public to meticulously verify all construction permits and approvals prior to purchasing property.

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