Ahmedabad father-son duo among three held for ₹1.85 crore PM Awas Yojana housing fraud

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation after three people, including a father-son duo, allegedly cheated more than 100 women of ₹1.85 crore by promising direct house allotments under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana without any official draw.

According to the complaint registered with the Economic Offences Wing, the accused offered assured housing under the central government scheme in exchange for advance processing fees, collecting large sums from victims before disappearing.

The complaint was filed by Sunita Bhandari, a resident of Rang Sagar flats in Naranpura, who said she learned from her mother that a man named Neel Madhav Patel was collecting forms for PM Awas Yojana houses and promising guaranteed allotments.

Neel Madhav allegedly claimed he owned two-wheeler showrooms named Rajdeep Automobiles in CTM, Maninagar and on Surat’s Varachha Road. He further said his father, Dipakbhai, was associated with Suman Developers, which had secured a government contract to build 1,000 houses, of which 150 would be allotted under the PM Awas Yojana.

Neel Madhav asked Sunita and others to contact his acquaintance Ashish to submit application forms. Trusting these claims, Sunita and more than 100 other women submitted forms and paid processing fees.

Later, Neel Madhav allegedly told Sunita that he could secure her a two-bedroom house for ₹11 lakh. On his assurance, Sunita’s husband mortgaged their Paldi home and secured a loan of ₹13 lakh, paying ₹8 lakh in cash at the CTM showroom. Neel Madhav, his father Dipakbhai and his uncle Rajubhai Patel were reportedly present at the time.

When names of Sunita and others did not appear in the official PM Awas Yojana draw, Neel Madhav allegedly said he was having disputes with his father and would still arrange the house. He also issued cheques promising refunds to those who no longer wanted houses.

However, his phone was later switched off, and his father publicly issued a notice distancing himself from any dealings with his son. Police allege the group used similar tactics to cheat victims under the guise of providing direct PM Awas Yojana house allotments.

The Economic Offences Wing has registered a case and begun inquiry in the matter. Officials said the scam may have wider ramifications and similar frauds could have been perpetrated in other cities as well.