Tardeo Police Book Man For Duping 12 People Of Rs 65 Lakh With Fake SRA Flat Promises

The Tardeo police in Mumbai have booked a man for allegedly cheating 12 people of ₹65 lakh by falsely promising them low-cost Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) flats in the Tulsiwadi area of Tardeo. The accused, identified as Latif Rajguru, allegedly collected the money from the victims between December 2025 and January 2026 by claiming he could use political contacts to secure the tenements.

The case was registered following a complaint by Kanta Maru, a 48-year-old Tulsiwadi resident who works at a private hospital. According to the police, Maru was looking to purchase a house in Tardeo in December 2025 when a real estate agent introduced her to Rajguru, claiming the accused worked in the office of the late deputy chief minister.

During their meetings in Tardeo, Rajguru allegedly wore what appeared to be a Government of Maharashtra identity card. He told Maru that he could arrange an SRA flat in Tulsiwadi at a lower price by using his influence, claiming he could regularise ineligible slums and transfer the tenement to her name.

Rajguru initially sought an advance of ₹55,000. Between December 2025 and January 2026, Maru paid him a total of ₹20 lakh as he repeatedly assured her that the allotment process was nearing completion.

Believing the offer to be genuine, several of Maru's relatives also handed over money to the accused. Among those defrauded were Harsh Sangathia, Vimla Makwana, Rajesh Vinjuda, and Anil Kashnekar. In total, Rajguru allegedly defrauded 12 people of ₹65 lakh.

Suspicion arose when no progress was made on the flat allocations. Maru visited Mantralaya to inquire about Rajguru's employment and discovered that no such person worked in the deputy chief minister's office.

Following the revelation, Maru approached the local police. The Tardeo police have registered a case against Rajguru under sections 318 (cheating), 319 (cheating by personation), 336 (forgery), and 340 (fraudulent use of forged documents or electronic records) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The police stated that the accused is yet to be arrested.