Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 30: A racket specializing in renting flats from owners who live in far off places or foreign countries, and then leasing them out to others by creating fake documents, is active in the city. A first information report relating to one such fraud has been lodged in Kadri police station. It is said that over six persons have been cheated in similar fashion, and the amount of fraud is over Rs 50 lac.

Abdul Farooq from Bendorewell here has filed one such complaint against Muhammed Nazeer from Attavar, as well as Imtiaz and Abdul Aziz from Ullal.

Addressing the media in this respect on Wednesday January 29, Abdul Farooq and U M Sayeed explained that they realized that they were cheated after they took flats on lease. They said that they have lost Rs 23 lac in this fraud. "On July 8, 2019, we filed complaint against these three in Kadri police station. But the police have failed to take any action. As per our information, these persons have also cheated Kartik and Stevan to the extent of eight lac rupees each. Over six people reportedly have been fleeced in this manner. We urge for transferring of this case to city central branch," they said.

The modus operandi of the gang is to take flats on rent normally in cases where the owner stays abroad. Thereafter, advertisement about availability of flat on lease is released. Out of the three accused, two take on the role of the owner while the other acts as if he is the agent. They prepare all the papers which are fake, obtain ten to 15 lac rupees for three years lease. For some time, they continue to pay rent to the real owners and then stop payment.

"The real owners then try to get the flats vacated but realize about the fraud when they do so. A person named Hamza was cheated of Rs 28 lac in similar fashion, "Abdul Farooq stated. Kartik was also present at the press meet.

Abdul Farooq said that when he was searching for a flat on lease, he came across a broker named Muhammed Nazeer. Nazeer offered to get a flat at Bendorewell owned by a person living abroad on lease basis. He said that the owner's brother Imtiaz, stays here. After Imtiaz was introduced to him, he was asked to deposit Rs 11 lac into his account before the flat could be given on lease.

"A person said to be from Dubai, who claimed his name as Sayyed Hussain Sayyed Muneer, called me in the guise of being the owner of the flat. As per his desire, I put ten lac rupees into the bank account and also paid commission to the broker. The fact that I was cheated came to my notice later," he explained.