GURUGRAM: The Economic Offences Wing of Haryana Police has apprehended a 33-year-old man, Anubhav Bhardwaj, for allegedly defrauding individuals under the guise of providing flats in a housing society located in Sector 55.
Bhardwaj, who resides in Mohan Garden, Delhi, was taken into custody on June 8 at Delhi Airport, reportedly while preparing to travel to Indonesia. A lookout circular had been issued against him last year.
Authorities reported that a case was initiated at the Sector 56 police station following a woman’s complaint. She claimed she was persuaded by her husband’s former colleague, Ishpal Bhardwaj, to invest in a flat within the Sunehra Apna Ghar Society between 2006 and 2007. She remitted approximately Rs 37.5 lakh in installments from 2008 to 2013.
Bhardwaj had informed the couple that after leaving his Air Force job, he transitioned to a private bank and subsequently to real estate. He allegedly offered them a reduced-price flat on Golf Course Road and showcased several projects he supposedly completed, including a residential complex called Chandra Housing Society adjacent to the proposed Sunehra Apna Ghar housing society.
He presented a 3BHK flat of 1,440 square feet and accepted an advance of Rs 4 lakh (10% of a total Rs 40 lakh). In total, the couple allegedly paid Bhardwaj Rs 20 lakh, after which he provided a share certificate, allotment letter, flat plan, and a list of 94 members.
After assessing the flat’s value, the woman submitted an additional Rs 17.5 lakh. She alleged that while construction progressed until 2013, it halted thereafter.
“Construction ceased, and the family did not receive a refund, prompting a cheating complaint in April 2017,” an officer noted.
The investigation revealed that Ishpal Bhardwaj, alongside five other accomplices—including his son Anubhav, brother-in-law Pradeep, brother Sandeep, Amit Kumar, and Jagbir—had collected funds from 242 applicants without returning their money.
“The society had only 94 flats. Additionally, investigations uncovered that Anubhav was not an authorized representative of the society and had allegedly signed a fraudulent memorandum of understanding with another company for flat sales,” an officer added.
Allegations also emerged that the group established a fake bank account in the society’s name, funneling crores collected from the public into it, which they misappropriated.
Anubhav was presented in court on June 9 and was remanded to two days of police custody. The authorities are currently interrogating him regarding the recovery of the defrauded amounts, the identification of other culprits, and financial transactions associated with the case.
