Builder accused of fraud in Mumbai project

Mumbai's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has initiated an investigation into builder Pratik Veera and others, following a complaint alleging fraud amounting to Rs 13.65 crore. The complaint was lodged by Kashyap Mehta, a fellow builder, who claims that Veera, associated with Sivana Realty Private Ltd, unlawfully profited from the sale of flats in the Samruddhi Garden project located in Bhandup. The FIR details the formation of the Sunshine Group by Mehta and Atul Bharani, with Veera as an investor. This group was responsible for several construction projects, including the Samruddhi Garden and Oakwood Plaza on a 3.75-acre site. By 2014-2015, the Sunshine Group had successfully built and sold 234 flats in Samruddhi Garden, while construction on Oakwood Plaza remained incomplete. A dispute arose in 2016 between Veera and the Sunshine Group, leading to unresolved petitions filed by Veera in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The situation escalated to the Bombay High Court, which recommended an amicable resolution. However, Mehta alleges that during this process, Veera engaged in fraudulent activities, including the forgery of documents and manipulation of financial records to illicitly secure Rs 13.65 crore. The alleged fraud was uncovered when Veera reportedly submitted forged documents in court, implicating a conspiracy involving chartered accountants, developers, and flat buyers.