Ahmedabad: 29 people duped of Rs 21L with promise of homes under govt scheme

Ahmedabad: At least 29 people, including private employees, autorickshaw drivers and labourers, were allegedly duped of over Rs 21 lakh by a man who promised to allot them flats under the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana by claiming to have strong links in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

Two separate complaints were lodged with Bodakdev police against Ankit Patel, a resident of an apartment on Science City Road, accusing him of collecting advance payments from applicants between July and Sep 2025 before allegedly going absconding.

According to the first FIR filed by Dinesh Makwana, 23, Patel told him that he could arrange govt housing in the Science City area through his “contacts” in AMC. Patel allegedly demanded Rs 1.5 lakh as advance payment and assured the complainant that the flat would be allotted within four months.

Trusting him, Makwana transferred the money online in two instalments via QR code payments. However, when he visited Patel’s residence in March this year, he found the house locked. Neighbours allegedly told him that several others had also paid money for promised houses.

Police said Makwana named 14 more victims who together allegedly paid Rs 10.1 lakh to Patel.

In another complaint, an autorickshaw driver Rajesh Valodra alleged that he and his son paid Rs 50,000 to Patel in July 2025 after being promised a house under the scheme. Valodra later found that many others had similarly been cheated.

The second FIR listed 14 additional victims who allegedly paid around Rs 10.9 lakh to the accused.

Investigators said Patel allegedly gained victims’ trust by claiming that payments were being accepted only through online transfers. Police suspect more victims may come forward as the probe progresses.

Bodakdev police registered cheating and breach of trust charges and launched efforts to trace the accused, who allegedly vacated his rented flat and switched off his phone months ago.