Consumer forum imposes Rs. 1.2 lakh cost on a Nagpur developer
The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission slapped Rs 1.20 lakh cost on the directors of a real estate firm Phoenix Infra International Limited for physical and mental harassment, and on failure to provide flat as per agreement. Ravi Pritmani, the complainant, through counsel Kamal Satuja, moved the forum after Phoenix Infra didn’t commence construction of the flat scheme for over four years even after accepting Rs. 8.12 lakh down payment. As per the pact between them, the firm was to give the flat’s possession within 36 months from August 15, 2012, but till date no progress was made. The forum told the directors Ahemd Jiwani, Jitesh Nashine and Gautam Vijay to execute sale deed of its multi-storied building ‘Golden Castle’ and hand over the flat’s possession as per the memorandum of understanding (MoU), to complainant. In case of failure, they would refund Rs 8.12 lakh taken as down payment with 18% interest from August 15, 2012, and additional Rs 2 lakh for losses caused to him. The real estate firm launched its flat scheme in 2012 and entered into an MOU with the complainant on October 25 the same year for the purchase of flat. It was paid Rs 8.12 lakh through cheques as first instalment towards the flat costing Rs 32.49 lakh. The complainant was informed that all necessary permissions and sanctions were obtained for the construction of the multi-storied building. However, till February 2013, the construction hadn’t commenced. After the firm and its directors failed to respond, Pritmani lodged a complaint with the commissioner of police (CP) on August 31, 2013, for forgery and cheating against them. In November 2013, the firm’s agents approached the complainant and requested him not to invoke any legal action while assuring that the work would commence soon. In September 2014, a qualified architect inspected the site and certified that no construction work was started.
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