A single flat owner has secured a precedent-setting victory after a six-year legal battle, with the Maharashtra Real Estate Appellate Tribunal (MahaREAT) ordering developers of the stalled Nilkanth Kingdom project in Mumbai to complete full Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) registration within 60 days.

The ruling, delivered in favour of a lone appellant, significantly strengthens the enforcement of RERA by clarifying that incomplete housing projects must be treated as active projects under the law, even if partial possession was granted before RERA came into force.

Tribunal Overturns Earlier Order

The latest order overturns MahaREAT’s own June 18, 2019 decision, which had earlier allowed registration only for unfinished amenities. The tribunal has now held that where Completion Certificates (CC) and Occupation Certificates (OC) are pending, the entire project remains incomplete and must be fully registered under RERA.

Legal experts say the clarification closes a long-used loophole that allowed developers of pre-RERA projects to avoid regulatory oversight by claiming partial completion.

Legal Significance Highlighted by Counsel

Counsel for the flat owner said the ruling reinforces the core intent of RERA — accountability and transparency. According to the tribunal’s interpretation, developers cannot escape their obligations simply because possession was handed over before RERA became operational.

“This judgment makes it clear that incomplete projects cannot be selectively registered. If essential approvals and amenities are pending, the project is active under RERA,” the lawyer said. Experts believe the decision could influence dozens of stalled or partially completed projects across Maharashtra.

Project Delays and Long-Standing Disputes

The case relates to Nilkanth Kingdom, a residential project in Vidyavihar (West) comprising seven buildings constructed on leased land. The project was launched in 2005, with possession initially promised by 2008. However, internal disputes among developers and prolonged legal challenges led to repeated delays.

While structures were largely completed by 2012–13, buyers received only fit-out possession. Key amenities such as a clubhouse and swimming pool remain unfinished to date, and statutory approvals including CC and OC were never obtained.

A Lone Battle Against Major Builders

The appeal before MahaREAT was filed solely by flat owner Stuti Galiya of N K Avanti Cooperative Housing Society. Nearly 499 other flat buyers and seven housing societies chose not to participate in the prolonged litigation.

Stuti pursued the case alone against 11 developers, many of whom are large corporate entities represented by leading law firms. The tribunal’s decision highlights how sustained legal effort by a single homebuyer can lead to systemic accountability.

Broader Impact on RERA Enforcement

The ruling significantly enhances the scope of RERA by reaffirming that the law applies to unfinished projects regardless of when possession was offered. Developers are now legally required to complete not just structural construction, but also promised amenities and statutory approvals.

Housing activists say the judgment strengthens buyer protection and sends a clear signal that partial completion will no longer shield developers from regulatory responsibility.

As stalled housing projects continue to affect thousands of buyers across the state, the verdict is being seen as a milestone in real estate jurisprudence — and a reminder that persistence can reshape accountability in India’s property sector.

Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has dismantled a cyber fraud gang that impersonated Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) officials to defraud unsuspecting consumers. Three men—Bikky Mandal alias Vicky (Asansol, West Bengal), Sumit Kumar Singh (Jamtara, Jharkhand), and Rajiv Kumar Mandal—have been arrested for siphoning money from victims’ bank accounts via malicious APK files disguised as official applications.

Modus Operandi of the Fraud
Investigators revealed that the gang contacted victims by phone, claiming to be IGL representatives and warning of pending bills, account updates, or possible disconnection. Victims were then instructed to download an APK file presented as IGL’s official app. Once installed, the fraudulent app requested extensive permissions, enabling the accused to access messages, read OTPs, mirror screens, and perform unauthorized banking transactions.

Fake Apps Mimicking Trusted Brands
Digital forensics on nine phones recovered from the suspects found seven devices containing multiple fraudulent apps. These apps imitated the look and feel of legitimate services, including IGL, State Bank of India, Tata Power, and RTO challan portals. Investigators noted that the apps were designed solely to gain user trust and covertly steal sensitive financial data, making detection difficult for ordinary users.

Links to Multiple Cybercrime Complaints
The gang has been linked to 35 separate cybercrime complaints filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). Police records show that the accused had prior involvement in cyber fraud and cheating cases in their respective regions. Rajiv Kumar Mandal reportedly coordinated operations and managed fraudulent transactions.

Understanding APK Files
An APK (Android Package Kit) is the file format used to install apps on Android devices, similar to .exe files on computers. Fraudsters often tamper with APKs to distribute malicious software, posing as updates, bill payments, or government-related applications. Once installed, these apps can give attackers full control over the device.

IGL Advisory to Consumers
IGL has issued a warning to customers to avoid responding to suspicious calls regarding bill payments or service disconnection. The company advises verifying any such communication through official channels and only using authorised payment platforms. Consumers are also urged not to download apps received through calls or messages.

Tips to Stay Safe

• Install apps only from Google Play Store
• Avoid clicking on unknown links or APK files
• Keep the ‘Unknown Sources’ setting disabled
• Limit app permissions to only necessary functions
• Report suspected fraud immediately by calling 1930

Police have urged the public to stay vigilant and ignore unsolicited calls or messages requesting personal or financial information. Investigations into the cybercrime network are ongoing.

New Delhi — A case of online fraud in Karnataka’s Mangaluru has highlighted both the growing sophistication of cyber scams and the critical role of alert banking staff in limiting financial damage. A local doctor was duped into transferring ₹22 lakh after fraudsters promised him a large foreign payout, but further losses were prevented due to timely intervention by a Canara Bank official. The matter is currently being investigated by the Cyber Economic and Narcotic (CEN) police.

Lured by promise of a foreign reward

According to police officials, the doctor received an unsolicited international call in which the caller praised his professional work and claimed he was being rewarded with USD 2.5 million. Shortly afterwards, another individual contacted him while impersonating a customs official, stating that a parcel containing the money had arrived in his name.

The caller alleged that the consignment could only be released after payment of customs duties and processing fees, creating a sense of urgency and authenticity around the claim.

Money transferred over multiple days

Trusting the callers, the doctor visited a nearby Canara Bank branch over three consecutive days and transferred funds to several different bank accounts as instructed. Each transaction was presented as a compulsory charge related to customs clearance.

Investigators said the fraudsters deliberately split the amounts across multiple transfers and accounts to avoid immediate suspicion and make the financial trail harder to trace.

Bank official detects suspicious pattern

The repeated visits and unusual transaction behaviour raised concerns for a bank official, who flagged the activity as potentially fraudulent. Before allowing any further transfers, the official contacted the CEN police for verification.

Following preliminary checks, police confirmed that the doctor had fallen victim to a cyber scam. By that point, ₹22 lakh had already been transferred. The intervention, however, prevented additional payments, and the victim immediately lodged a formal complaint.

Police praise bank–law enforcement coordination

Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said the incident demonstrated the importance of cooperation between banks and law enforcement agencies. He noted that recent awareness meetings with banking staff had focused on identifying unusual transaction patterns linked to cybercrime.

“This case shows how timely vigilance by bank officials can stop fraud in progress and save citizens from even greater financial losses,” he said.

A familiar cyber fraud pattern

Police stated that the scam follows a well-established modus operandi commonly seen in online fraud cases:

• Unsolicited calls promising large sums of money from abroad
• Impersonation of customs or government officials
• Demands for payments described as taxes, duties, or processing charges
• Routing money through multiple accounts to obscure tracking

Authorities reiterated that no legitimate government agency demands payments over phone calls or messaging apps to release parcels, rewards, or funds.

Advisory for the public

Cybercrime officials have urged citizens to remain cautious when receiving unexpected international calls or offers of large financial rewards. Any demand for money linked to customs, taxes, or overseas consignments should be independently verified with banks or reported immediately to cyber police.

A reminder on cyber safety

The Mangaluru case underscores how quickly fraudsters exploit trust and urgency—but also how institutional alertness can limit the damage. Officials emphasised that public awareness, combined with proactive monitoring by banks, remains the strongest defence against increasingly sophisticated online scams.