Major Real Estate Scam Rocks Dehradun: SIT Formed to Nab Accused
In a significant development that has sent shockwaves through Uttarakhand's real estate sector, Dehradun police have established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to apprehend a property developer and his family members accused of orchestrating a massive financial fraud amounting to approximately Rs 45 crore. The case involves a luxury housing project located on the prestigious Mussoorie Road area, where numerous investors have allegedly been duped through sophisticated fraudulent schemes.
The Elaborate Fraud Scheme Uncovered
The investigation was triggered by a formal complaint filed by Vivek S Raj at Rajpur police station last week, which led to the registration of a case against Shashwat Garg, his wife Sakshi, his mother Anjali, and other family members. According to the complaint, the accused developed a luxury residential complex comprising 121 apartments but engaged in systematic fraud by selling the same apartment units to multiple buyers simultaneously.
Police authorities revealed that the fraudulent transactions involved as many as 90 apartments within the project. The accused not only practiced this duplicate selling strategy but also allegedly obtained substantial loans from various financial institutions using forged documents. The complaint further indicates that employees from several banks and finance companies might have been involved in facilitating these transactions, though their identities remain unspecified at this stage of investigation.
High-Level Police Intervention and SIT Formation
The gravity of the situation prompted immediate action from senior police officials. Inspector General of Police (Garhwal range) Rajeev Swaroop issued directives on Thursday for the creation of a specialized investigation team to handle this complex case. The SIT will be headed by the Circle Officer of Mussoorie and tasked with uncovering every aspect of the real estate fraud and associated criminal activities.
"Considering the gravity of the case, the SIT will work to uncover all aspects of this real estate-related fraud and other crimes committed by the accused and his family members," stated IG Swaroop, emphasizing the seriousness with which authorities are treating this matter. The formation of the SIT underscores the complexity of the investigation and the need for specialized expertise to track the financial trails and document forgeries.
International Manhunt and Current Status
Authorities currently suspect that the prime accused, Shashwat Garg and his wife Sakshi, have fled to neighboring Nepal in an attempt to evade arrest. The entire family has been missing since October, leaving investors in distress and authorities scrambling to locate them. The cross-border dimension of the case has added another layer of complexity to the investigation, potentially requiring international cooperation through official channels.
The police are now focusing on multiple fronts including:
- Tracking the movement and current whereabouts of the accused family members
- Investigating the role of bank and finance company employees in the fraud
- Documenting the complete financial trail and recovering duped funds
- Identifying all affected investors and the exact magnitude of the fraud
This case has highlighted the vulnerabilities in real estate transactions and the urgent need for more robust verification mechanisms in property deals. As the SIT begins its thorough investigation, affected investors await justice while the real estate industry in Dehradun faces increased scrutiny.
