Family accused of duping residents of ₹9 lakh in fake Gujarat Housing Board scheme

A woman from Jamalpur in Ahmedabad has lodged a complaint with the Vejalpur police alleging that she, along with several relatives and neighbours, was cheated of more than ₹9.1 lakh by a family in Juhapura on the pretext of allotting government housing under the Gujarat Housing Board scheme.

According to the FIR filed by Johra Qureshi, a resident of Astodia, the accused — identified as Shainbanu Anwarbhai Sipai, her husband Anwarbhai, and their children Ayan and Miraba allegedly lured victims with promises of houses and shops near Sarkhej Amber Tower. The complainant alleged that the family posed as having connections in the Housing Board and issued forged receipts in return for hefty deposits.

Qureshi stated that around five years ago, she and her relatives were told by the accused that new government houses were being built at Makarba. Believing the offer to be genuine, they agreed to purchase four houses and two shops at a price of ₹9.1 lakh. An initial payment of ₹1.8 lakh was allegedly made in cash, for which the accused issued receipts bearing fake Housing Board numbers.

The complainant further alleged that the accused even produced a notarised affidavit in March this year to convince victims of the authenticity of the deal. However, when the promised houses were not delivered, Qureshi and others approached the accused at their residence in Juhapura, only to find the premises locked. Neighbours informed them that the family had moved out some time ago.

In her complaint, Qureshi said that when she and her relatives tried to contact the accused by phone, their numbers were switched off. When they confronted the children of the accused, they were allegedly abused and threatened. “They told us that if we asked about their parents again, they would break our legs,” the FIR states.

Police said the accused have allegedly cheated multiple families in the locality using the same modus operandi of offering government housing, collecting large sums of money, and providing forged documents as proof.

An FIR has been registered at Vejalpur Police Station under sections relating to cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery and criminal intimidation. Police said an investigation is underway to trace the absconding accused and to identify the total number of victims involved.