The Malad police have uncovered a well-organised housing scam in which fraudsters posted fake property listings on popular online real estate platforms, cheating multiple buyers of lakhs of rupees. Six accused have been arrested, while the prime suspect remains absconding.
Police officials revealed that all the arrested accused have a criminal history involving similar cheating cases, with FIRs previously registered at Dahisar and Kashigaon police stations. The suspects were apprehended last week and are currently lodged in judicial custody.
The case surfaced following a complaint filed by Naval Rajput (31), a land surveyor residing in Malad East. Rajput had been searching for a house for nearly six months in 2025 on a well-known property buy-and-sell website.
During his search, Amit Thakur (30) contacted Rajput, claiming to have a flat available for sale. Thakur instructed his associates Roshan Yadav and Deepak Shah to show Rajput Flat No. 1301 at Shubharshree Arcade on Jakeria Road in Malad West.
After inspecting the flat, Rajput agreed to purchase it. Shah later arranged a meeting with a man introduced as the owner, Popatlal Sandesha, and produced property documents. The deal was finalised for Rs1.10 crore.
Rajput paid Rs26 lakh by cheque and Rs4 lakh in cash to the supposed owner, recording the transaction on video. The footage showed Deepak Shah and the impostor posing as Sandesha.
However, when Rajput attempted to proceed with registration formalities, Thakur repeatedly evaded him. Suspecting foul play, Rajput visited the housing society office, where members confirmed that although the flat belonged to Popatlal Sandesha, the person in the video was not him.
Realising he had been cheated, Rajput approached the Malad police. An FIR was registered, triggering an in-depth investigation led by Assistant Police Inspector Deepak Raywade of the Malad detection team.
By tracking bank transactions and CCTV footage, police identified withdrawal dates and suspects. A trap was laid at a bank, leading to the detention of Hitesh Kedar on January 6, followed by the arrest of Rajesh Prasad the next day from Dahisar West.
Further interrogation revealed the involvement of Rajan Kakkad, Mohammad Raffiq Rashid Khan alias Ravi, and Amit Thakur alias Kasim Khan, who allegedly used Prasad’s bank account to route the cheated money. Police later arrested Nimesh Mawani from Thane, who had impersonated the real flat owner.
The arrested accused have been identified as:
Hitesh Kedar (30) – Delivery boy, Dahisar East
Rajesh Prasad (37) – Delivery boy, Kandivali West
Nimesh Mawani (49) – Thane West
Mohammad Raffiq Rashid Khan (38) – Andheri West
Deepak Shah (37) – Real estate agent, Nalasopara West
Rajan Kakkad (45) – Borivali West
The main accused, Amit Thakur, is still absconding, and police efforts are underway to trace and arrest him.
