Bank loan scam widens

After Sunday MiD DAY's recent report on Mira Road's hapless residents, an Andheri flat owner says he was asked to return a loan of Rs 29 lakh he never took

After Sunday MiD DAY's recent report on Mira Road's hapless residents, an Andheri flat owner says he was asked to return a loan of Rs 29 lakh he never took

In less than a week after publishing the story of shocked Mira Road residents who got warning notices to vacate flats for bank loans they say they didn't take, Sunday MiD DAY came across another similar story from Andheri.

Interestingly, both alleged frauds bear the names of Vijay Medethi and Firoze Khan. Both cases now being investigated by Rakesh Maria, Joint Commissioner (Crime Branch).

Peter Martis, outside his Andheri flat (black windows)

Peter Martis, owner of flat no B/105, Manish Sonal, Manish Nagar, in his letter to the Crime Branch, stated that around three years ago, he had given his flat on leave and license for 12 months to his neighbour, M S Murthy and his son Vijay Medethi, whose flat was being demolished in the first phase of redevelopment. Earlier this year, he received a call from GE Finance, claiming that he had sold the flat to some Akhtar Gulam Sheikh, after securing a loan of Rs 29 lakh.

"I was shown an agreement, bearing my name, but an unknown photograph, which had been duly registered with revenue authorities, with stamp duty paid and NOC from the building secretary. What the tricksters overlooked was the fact that my wife Felcy's name appears as the first owner on the share certificate, which has the photograph of Medethi as a witness, under a false name of Abhishekh Reddy and of Firoze Khan," alleged Martis, producing an original copy of the share certificate.

Martis further added that as per the information given to him by GE Finance, the money had been deposited in an account bearing his name in Dena Bank, Manish Nagar Branch and subsequently withdrawn in cash, leaving a small mandatory balance. Interestingly, the alleged purchaser Sheikh has given an address which corresponds with Medethi's residence.

Building secretary Kushi Sarin, when asked about the copy of bogus, society NOC, bearing the rubber seal, informed that the document bears the signature of a building member's son Bhavesh Tailor, who is not an office bearer, so is in no way an authorised signatory. "Vijay's father is too old to be part of any plan," he said.

Society members, who did not wish to be named, alleged that Firoze Khan ran a restaurant in Oshiwara and was often seen with Medethi.

Sudhakar Iyer, who was till recently employed by GE and who investigated the case, said that it was a clear cut case of fraud.

Maria stated that he had in fact received the complaint letter from Martis and he had already given instructions to initiate a probe. "We need to verify how the banks have sanctioned such huge loans, without verification of the title or actual ownership. If there are others who have been conned in a similar fashion, they should approach us for help."

Medethi's version
Sunday MiD DAY spoke to Vijay Medethi, who was initially reluctant to comment. "I don't know how my name is connected with what happened at Mira Road. There is a big mess with what has happened between Martis and me. We are trying to find a solution," he stated. Medethi added that probably his ICICI credit card had been misused by someone. When asked about his photograph on the sale agreement and his connection with Firoze Khan, he refused to comment.