In a significant development in the ongoing MHADA housing lottery scam, Latif Shantvan Rajguru, aged 52, has been denied bail by the Sessions Court at Dindoshi, Mumbai. Rajguru is accused of defrauding individuals by falsely claiming he could secure MHADA flats through his purported connections in Mantralaya, the state government’s administrative headquarters.
Case Details
Rajguru, a resident of Ghatkopar East, Mumbai, allegedly promised his victims MHADA flats in exchange for substantial sums of money. The primary complainant in the case reported that Rajguru had taken a total of Rs. 20,42,736 from him and Rs. 7,33,000 from another associate. The accused issued receipts bearing the official seal and signature of MHADA authorities, which later turned out to be forged.
The complainant realized the fraud when Rajguru failed to deliver on his promise of providing the flats. Upon further inquiry at the MHADA office, it was confirmed that the receipts and documents Rajguru provided were fabricated. Following this discovery, the complainant filed a police report at Andheri Police Station, leading to the registration of a criminal case against Rajguru under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Court’s Decision
Rajguru was apprehended and brought before the court. His initial bail application was rejected by the trial magistrate on October 3, 2024, after which he filed the current application. The court, however, denied him bail once again on October 11, 2024, citing the serious nature of the allegations and the ongoing investigation.
The prosecution argued that releasing Rajguru at this stage could hinder the investigation, as he has allegedly cheated the victims out of a large sum of money by falsely presenting himself as a government employee. The court noted that Rajguru had issued fraudulent receipts and documents to the complainant, giving the impression that they were legitimate MHADA papers.
Moreover, the court emphasized that Rajguru’s release could disrupt the investigation since a substantial amount of money had been involved in the fraudulent transactions. The allegations pointed to the accused playing a critical role in orchestrating the fraud and misrepresentation, leading to financial losses for multiple victims.
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