Three booked for duping 11 people in fake MHADA housing scheme in Thane

Police in Maharashtra’s Thane district have launched a probe into an alleged housing scam in which 11 residents were duped of money under the pretext of a fake Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) scheme, as per reports.

A case has been reportedly registered against three persons for cheating and forgery following a complaint lodged by a 54-year-old woman from Ulhasnagar.

The accused allegedly lured victims by promising low-cost flats under a government-backed housing scheme and collected money from them over the past two years.

The complainant told police that the accused gained her trust by offering a house at a concessional rate under the MHADA scheme.

Officials reportedly said the accused collected ₹5,000 each from 11 victims, amounting to ₹55,000, and also misused their personal details to procure SIM cards, create email IDs and open bank accounts.

As per the Hill Line police station, these accounts were then used to route larger financial transactions, including transfers to companies and builders using forged documents and signatures.

Police suspect the scam may be wider in scope and that more victims could have been targeted.