Hyderabad: Gharonda Builders Managing Partner Sunil Sachdev sentenced to 3 years in jail for cheating flat buyers
Despite collecting the amount, the builder neither handed over the flat nor refunded the money, prompting the couple to approach the consumer commission in 2018
By - Sistla Dakshina Murthy
Hyderabad: Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission–II has sentenced Sunil J. Sachdev, Managing Partner of Gharonda Builders and Developers (Sultanpur Bazar), to three years of imprisonment for cheating flat buyers and willfully defying its earlier orders.
The verdict was delivered on Thursday by a bench comprising President Vakkanti Narsimha Rao and members Parupalli Jawahar Babu and D. Sridevi, while disposing of an execution petition filed by the complainants.
Case background
According to the complaint, H. Narayanan and his wife Vidya, residents of Baghlingampally, paid Rs 14,90,280 to Gharonda Builders for the purchase of a flat.
Despite collecting the amount, the builder neither handed over the flat nor refunded the money, prompting the couple to approach the consumer commission in 2018.
Earlier orders ignored
In February 2020, the Commission directed the builder to:
Refund Rs 14,90,280 with 12% interest
Pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation
Pay Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs
Though the builder challenged the order, the appeal was dismissed on November 25, 2024. Even after this, the directions were not complied with, leading the complainants to file an execution petition.
Builder’s defence rejected
During the execution proceedings, Sunil Sandev admitted that the Commission’s orders were valid but claimed that project-related issues forced him into insolvency and that he had filed insolvency proceedings. He argued that the non-compliance was not intentional.
The Commission rejected this defence, clarifying that insolvency proceedings do not shield an accused from penalties or imprisonment imposed by consumer forums.
Final verdict
Holding Sunil Sachdev guilty, the Commission sentenced him to three years of simple imprisonment. It also clarified that, since he is already serving sentences in other cases, the newly imposed sentence will commence after the completion of the existing ones.
The ruling sends a strong message against real estate developers who flout consumer protection orders and exploit homebuyers.
