Mira Road estate agent disappears after ‘duping’ tenants of Rs 1.8 crore

MUMBAI: A Mira Road-based real estate agent has disappeared with his family after allegedly duping prospective tenants of “heavy deposit” totalling more than Rs 1.8 crore. Hardik Shet, the agent, is said to have left behind a “suicide note” in Gujarati, alleging that he was being harassed by a few people and that he feared for his life.

Under heavy deposit, which is common practice in Mira Road and Bhayander, tenants pay a lumpsum amount of Rs 2 lakh to 4 lakh to flat owners. Thereafter, they do not need to pay a monthly rent. The leave and licence agreement is for 22 to 33 months. When the tenant vacates the flat, the owner returns the entire deposit amount.

Last month, 38 tenants who had paid the sum in cheques filed a complaint with Kashimira police. Several victims who had paid in cash, though, do not have any proof of the money exchange. Police sources said the amount real estate agent swindled may well run into Rs 5 crore.

According to the complaint, Shet, who ran a real estate agency at Mira Road’s Vinay Nagar in Sheetal Complex, used to offer flats on rent on heavy deposit.

Shet had moved to Mira Road with his wife and children a few years ago. Initially, he would honour the heavy deposit agreement. Since early last year, though, he began to collect cheques in his name, encash these and then tell the prospective tenant that the flat owner had backed out of the deal. When the tenant would ask for money, he would say he was looking for another flat and would adjust the amount against it.

By November-end, the victims realized he had shut shop. His two cars were found abandoned in different locations at Mira Road. On December 12, police filed a cheating case.