Mira Road mayor's kin arrested for fraud

Family claims brother of Mira Road-Bhayander Municipal Corporation mayor conned them of two apartments; allege cops dragging their feet owing to his political connectionsThe brother of Tulsidas Mhatre, the mayor of the Mira Road-Bhayander Municipal Corporation was arrested by the Navghar police for cheating a family and fraudulently selling the same flat to multiple people. According to the police, the fraud came to light when the complainant Mayur Mehta, a resident of Goregaon registered a case against Chandrakant Mhatre on April 14 for conning him of two apartments. The FIR (copy available with MiD DAY) that Mehta filed stated that Mhatre cheated the Mehtas when they approached him in 2007 and 2008 to but two apartments in Cine Heights on Golden Nest Road, Bhayander. Fraud: Chandrakant Mhatre brother of Mira Road-Bhayander Municipal mayor Tulsidas Mhatre, cheated a family and sold the same flat to multiple people. Pics/Roshan SayedInitially, we had bought apartment 501 in the building in 2007 for which I had made the payments. However, he did not give me possession of the flat. Seeing no other option, I approached the police. According to Mehta, after the police intervened they received possession of flat 501. When we saw the flat we had bought we were shocked. It was in such a shabby condition. The water pipe is broken and there was a lot of leakage, said Mehta.u00a0Realising the apartment was not in a livable condition, the Mehtas asked Mhatre for another apartment -- 503. The Mehtas also gave Mhatre three cheques -- Rs 2 lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 75,000. However, the Mehtas then realised that Mhatre had sold the same flat to Jitendra Shah, a Tardeo resident. The family also alleges that even though the police has registered the case, cops have been dragging their feet because of Mhatre's political connections. Not only did he sell my flat, he also took my cars. The police is not co-operating with us, as the accused is the brother of the mayor. We have all the proof of purchase, said Apurva Mehta, brother of the complainant. Mayur also alleged that Chandrakant Mhatre, his son Amol Mhatre, Ravi Sharma and Abhijeet alias Abu had threatened them. We have no option except to approach the police, but the police are even supporting them. There is no water and electricity in the building. No one has got electricity bill since the past three years, Mehta added.Meanwhile, the police said that the investigations are ongoing. We have arrested Chandrakant Mhatre under section 420, 405, 406 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, said Senior Inspector Rajendra Mohite of Navghar police station in Bhayander.