Builder arrested for selling same South Delhi flat multiple times

Continuing the trend of Indian courts led by Supreme Court strictly punishing cheating builders, a Delhi court has taken a strong stand and directed that the managing director of a major realty firm be taken into custody, after his anticipatory bail was dismissed by Justice Nazmi Waziri of the Delhi High Court in a cheating case. Consequently, Punit Beriwala, the MD of Vipul Limited which has assets exceeding Rs 1700 crores was arrested today on the orders of Harjyot Singh Bhalla, ACMM Saket. He was ordered arrested in the criminal case relating to a south Delhi property where the company is accused of duping a buyer. Since the same flat had been sold to multiple buyers, the Learned Judge ordered accused Punit Beriwala be taken into custody. Additional Sessions Judge AK Jain earlier found that the accused had sold a flat in Aurobindo Marg to a different buyer before receiving the registration money from the complainant and issued arrest warrants in October 2016. The complaint filed by Mrs. Nishi Gupta states that her mother-in-law had paid Rs 20 lakh to the firm by cheque in 2005 to purchase a flat at Aurobindo Marg. The situation turned tragic as the 85 year old lady passed away in 2010 waiting for delivery of the flat. The company Vipul later admitted in court that it received the amount even though the contract was an oral one. Meanwhile, Rs. 80 lakh had been received against the same flat from another buyer Rishi Agarwal. However, the court decided to summon Beriwala recording the fact that the company conceded it had received Rs 20 lakh from Gupta even as it had sold off the flat to another buyer. Subsequently, Beriwala was released on bail after furnishing a bail bond for Rs 5 lakh and the judge ordered that since the matter is very old, the trial will be expedited.