‘Govt housing scheme’ scam: 30 Hyderabad locals cheated of Rs 42 lakh; four arrested

Hyderabad: Four persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in cheating several citizens by promising them double-bedroom flats under the Telangana Government’s housing scheme.

The gang is believed to have swindled nearly Rs 42.35 lakh from 25 to 30 victims across various parts of Hyderabad, including Bandlaguda, Amberpet, Mangalhat, Golconda, Madannapet and Attapur.

Fake allotment orders used to lure victims

Disclosing the case details before the media here on Wednesday, DCP (Task Force), Hyderabad YVS Sudheendra said that the main accused, Mohd Ahmed (25), an AC technician and part-time real estate agent from Ghouse Nagar, Bandlaguda, reportedly devised the plan to make quick money.

He, along with his associate Mohd Amjad alias Munavar (21), posed as brokers and lured unsuspecting people with the promise of 2BHK flat allotments under the State housing scheme. To make the fraud appear genuine, the duo collaborated with Kothakota Raj Kumar Reddy alias Raju (33), a construction supervisor at the government housing site in Bandlaguda.

Raju would show victims the ongoing construction, adding credibility to the gang’s claims. Victims were made to pay amounts ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2.22 lakh. Later, the accused created fabricated allotment letters using the PicsArt mobile application.

These fake documents bore the forged signature of the RDO Hyderabad and counterfeit government seals, which were then handed over to the victims as proof of allotment.

Another accused, Mir Kousar Ali alias Siraj (32), who runs a tea stall in Golconda, helped the gang by bringing in more victims from his locality on a commission basis.

The gang operated for over two years

The DCP further said that the gang operated this racket for over two years and targeted low-income families hoping for government support.

A total of 11 fake allotment letters, six forged stamps, four mobile phones and cash worth Rs 5.5 lakh were seized from the accused.

Multiple cases registered

Six criminal cases have been registered against the gang in various police stations across the city under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS): Bandlaguda, Amberpet, Bhavani Nagar, Madannapet, Mangalhat and Golconda police stations.

The accused have been taken into custody, and further investigation is underway to trace additional victims and identify whether any insiders from government departments were involved.