Kasturba Marg police arrested a builder and his son for allegedly cheating multiple homebuyers and investors of several crores by offering flats that were never delivered.

Duo arrested after evading police across states

The Kasturba Marg Police have arrested a builder, Ashok Jethwa (55), and his son Mihir Jethwa (35) for allegedly cheating homebuyers and investors of several crores of rupees by offering flats that were never handed over. The pair were traced to a hotel in Ernakulam, Kerala, by Zone 12’s special squad and were brought back to Mumbai on Tuesday.

Police said the duo had been evading arrest for years, using fake Aadhaar cards, travelling across states, and staying under false identities to avoid detection. Multiple cases had been registered against them across Mumbai suburbs.

Investor alleges loss of ₹1.74 crore

One of the complainants, a 50-year-old resident of Khar West, told police that he had known the accused since 2016. According to his statement, the Jethwas claimed to be redeveloping a project under Triveni Developers at Borivli East and offered him three flats in the Nil Akash Co-operative Housing Society.

The accused allegedly showed him documents claiming:

  • the building had permission for 10 floors
  • an additional three floors were pending approval with the BMC
  • the project was RERA-registered
  • possession would be handed over by 31 December 2018

Trusting them, he transferred ₹1,74,89,910 between 2016 and 2018. The accused also promised 24 per cent interest for delays in possession.

However, when he visited the site in December 2018, he found that only six floors had been constructed and work had come to a halt. The duo later offered him a flat in Kandivli, which was also not delivered. When he sought a refund, they allegedly told him, “Do whatever you want.”

He subsequently filed a complaint stating that the project was abandoned between 2018 and 2024 and that the accused had violated the agreement and misused his funds.

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Police detail method of evasion

Investigators revealed that the Jethwas allegedly operated by posing as legitimate developers, showing forged permissions and offering buyers “priority allocation” in upcoming towers. After collecting advances, they allegedly stopped construction at multiple sites.

To avoid arrest, they reportedly:

  • used forged identification documents
  • stayed in hotels using alternate names
  • frequently shifted locations across states
  • kept minimal digital footprints

The special squad tracked their movements, eventually locating them at a hotel in Ernakulam and arresting them on Sunday night.

Multiple cases registered across Mumbai

Police confirmed that over six cases are registered against the duo at the Kasturba Marg police station alone, with several additional FIRs filed in Borivli and MHB Colony police stations. The cumulative alleged fraud amount runs into several crores.

Cases at Kasturba Marg Police Station

  • Cr No. 177/25 – ₹1.17 crore
  • Cr No. 488/25 – ₹1.51 crore
  • Cr No. 351/25 – ₹1.74 crore
  • Cr No. 852/23 (MPID) – ₹13.52 crore
  • Cr No. 288/23 – ₹75 lakh
  • Cr No. 108/23 – ₹1.20 crore

Additional cases

  • Borivli Police: Cr No. 75/21, 464/24 (conditional bail), 42/24
  • MHB Police: Cr No. 356/23

Officials said the scope of the investigation may widen as more victims come forward.

Investigation continues

The accused are currently in police custody, and investigators are verifying project permissions, financial transactions, and agreements signed with buyers. Police are also examining bank statements and property records to determine whether additional assets were acquired using funds collected from homebuyers.

Authorities have urged other potential victims to approach the police with supporting documents.