In a shocking case of high-stakes real estate fraud, a criminal syndicate allegedly sold a luxury apartment that never existed in Gurgaon's upscale DLF Camellias for a staggering Rs 12 crore. The scam was executed using meticulously forged bank auction documents, with police now suspecting the wider racket may have duped multiple victims of over Rs 200 crore across several Indian states.
The Unraveling of a Multi-Crore Con
The crime came to light on June 13 when Delhi Police received a formal complaint alleging cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. The victim was presented with what appeared to be legitimate auction papers for a premium apartment in the DLF Camellias society. The accused convinced the complainant that their firm had already purchased the property at auction and could transfer it immediately.
Acting on this promise, the complainant transferred the entire Rs 12 crore sum between August and October last year via RTGS and demand drafts. However, a subsequent verification with the concerned bank revealed a devastating truth: all documents, including sale certificates, covering letters, and auction receipts, were counterfeit. No such auction had ever been conducted for the said property.
Money Trail Leads to Shell Firms and Arrests
Following the money, investigators traced the funds to accounts linked to a finance and licensing company operated by the prime accused, Mohit Gogia (38). A detailed bank analysis showed the stolen amount was rapidly routed through a complex web of multiple accounts to hide its origin. "Several beneficiaries and shell firms have since been identified, and liens have been placed on suspected bank accounts. Two cars bought using the cheated amount were also seized," stated DCP (Crime) Aditya Gautam.
Police revealed the racket operated on a consistent modus operandi. They would lure targets with offers of luxury properties at prices significantly below market rates, backed by forged mortgage and auction documents that promised instant possession. The illicit funds were then layered through a network of accounts and rotated for profit, frequently via Babaji Finance, operated by another absconding accused, Ram Singh alias Babaji.
Key Accused Nabbed and Wider Network Exposed
The prime accused, Mohit Gogia, a Delhi resident, was arrested on November 22 while allegedly trying to flee from Mumbai towards Uttarakhand. He was apprehended near Doiwala on the Rishikesh-Dehradun road. Gogia's interrogation led police to several of his associates.
Subsequently, four more individuals were taken into custody:
- Vishal Malhotra and Sachin Gulati: Allegedly allowed their bank accounts to be used for laundering the cheated money.
- Abhinav Pathak: Allegedly introduced the complainant to Gogia and facilitated the fraudulent deal.
- Bharat Chhabra: Allegedly assisted in preparing the forged documents.
Investigators discovered that Gogia has an extensive criminal history, with at least 16 cases already registered against him in Delhi, Punjab, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, and Chandigarh, primarily for cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
Scope of the Fraud and Ongoing Probe
The police now believe this syndicate carried out similar fraudulent schemes involving luxury properties in other prime locations, including Ambience Mall and other premium areas in Delhi-NCR. The Crime Branch is actively working to arrest the remaining accused, including the absconding Babaji, recover the cheated funds, and identify more victims linked to this sprawling multi-state fraud network.
This case highlights the sophisticated methods employed by fraudsters in the high-value real estate sector and underscores the critical need for buyers to conduct extreme due diligence, especially when deals appear too good to be true.
