Sahiti Infra fraud: Victims protest in Hyderabad; demand SIT probe, action from CM Revanth

Hyderabad: The victims of several pre-launch offer frauds are coming out to voice their concerns and seek justice after several real estate scams in the city came to light.

Be it Bharat Builders in Kompally or Prathista Properties in Sangareddy, all victims were duped of lakhs of rupees by the builders; their biggest selling point was the promise to provide a home at the lowest cost in comparison with others in the market.

‘Biggest real estate scam in Telangana’

On Saturday, scores of victims cheated of lakhs by Sahiti Sarvani Elite from Ameenpur staged a demonstration at the Hyderabad Central Crime Station (CCS) headquarters in Basheerbagh.

They urged the police to expedite the investigation and ensure the offenders face consequences. The victims held up posters and a banner featuring the images of the people who they believe are the main culprits. They raised slogans demanding the police to take tough measures against those responsible for committing the ‘biggest real estate scam in Telangana.’

The victims also alleged that CCS Financial Offences Division, assistant commissioner of police (ACP) TS Umamaheswara Rao, who was recently arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials, harassed them on behalf of the Sahiti Infra MDs with whom he maintained a cordial relation.

'Majority of Sahiti Infra investors are retired employees'

The victims said that Sahiti Infra managing directors and marketing team collected around Rs 1,500 crores in the name of a pre-launch offer from 2,500 persons to construct a 10-tower housing project in Ameenpur in Sangareddy district.

“Almost five years ago, I invested in the Sahiti Infra project by availing personal loans and pledging gold ornaments from the family to realise our dream of owning a house. However, once the scam came to light we were shattered. And now nobody is helping us despite approaching several politicians and the CCS. We even lodged a complaint with the Real Estate Regulation Authority (RERA) but no action has been taken so far,” said K Rajasekhar, one of the many who invested in Sahiti Infra.

Rajasekhar said that around 1,200 families have come out to protest for justice. He demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be constituted to probe into the scam and a sitting judge should be appointed by the State government for quick disposal of the case.

“I am appealing to the police to take the issue to chief minister A Revanth Reddy. I invested in the Sahiti Infra housing project in Ameenpur in 2020. At that time, I paid Rs 3,000 for a sqft and due to an inordinate delay in completion of the project, one sqft has now become Rs 7,000. A majority of the investors are retired employees who invested in the project to realise their dream of owning a house. Our major demand is that Sahiti Infra should either hand over flats as promised or return our money,” said another investor B Syamala Devi.