Delhi lost Rs 2,007cr in property frauds last year

NEW DELHI: Delhi earned the dubious distinction of being the rape capital after Nirbhaya's gang rape last year. Now, it seems the city is also the leader when it comes to high-profile cheating cases. The National Crime Records Bureau data for 2012 shows that Delhi lost over Rs 2,000 crore in such cases-the highest for any city or state.
While citizens all over the country lost property worth at least Rs 1,990 crore, Delhiites were duped of Rs 2,007 crore after falling into various kinds of traps.Incidentally, the Delhi government spent the same amount on strengthening 674 roads in the capital.
Maharashtra came in second but its record was no where as bad as Delhi's. People in Maharashtra lost at least Rs 658 crore in property frauds last year.
Delhi topped in high end cheating from Rs 1 crore to Rs 100 crore above in previous year, leaving behind the rest of the country. In 2012 while people in all the Indian states and union territories had lost property of at least Rs 1990 crore, then people in Delhi alone lost property of Rs 2007 crore after being trapped in different types of cheatings. The amount is equivalent to the sum what Delhi government has spent on strengthening 674 roads across the state which were taken over by the PWD from Municipal corporations.
No Indian states or union territories could reach close to Delhi. Maharastra is on the second position but far behind Delhi. People in Maharastra lost at least Rs 658 crore properties in 2012 being cheated.
The figures reflect the need to strengthen economic offences wings of police departments to curb the growing number of such crimes.
NCRB has divided high-profile cases of cheating into five categories-from Rs 1 crore to Rs 100 crore-based on the value of the property involved. The first group ranges between Rs 1-10 crore, the second between Rs 10-25 crore, while the third group ranges from Rs 25 crore to Rs 50 crore. The fourth and fifth groups are Rs 50 to 100 crore and above Rs 100 crore respectively. Delhi topped the list in the second, third, fourth and fifth categories. Around 57 cases were registered under the first category (Rs 1 to 10 crore) while 30 cases were filed under the Rs 10-25 crore group.
The divisions start from Rs 1-10 crore, 10-25 crore, 25 to 50 crore, 50-100 crore, 100 crore and above.
In 2012, a total of 457 cases of property fraud were reported across the country, of which 125 were from Delhi. Maharashtra, which came in second, reported 107 such cases but the value of the properties involved was far less than that in Delhi. Around six cases involving properties valued over Rs 1 crore were reported from Delhi. Only five other areas in the country-Goa, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Chandigarh and Gujarat-reported frauds involving property worth over Rs 100 crore.
Tamil Nadu came in third with people being duped of properties worth Rs 339 crore. However, the state reported only nine cases.
caesar.mandal@timesgroup.com Maharashtra ended close to Delhi with 107 similar cases but from the total value of the properties cheated, Maharastra remained far behind.
In a conservative estimate, on the basis of the lowest end of all the slabs mentioned in NCRB statistics, six cases of Rs 100 crore and above cheating amount were reported in Delhi. Except six states and UT - Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh and Delhi - no other states have recorded any case of cheating valued Rs 100 crore and above. Except the first segment (cheating valued Rs 1-10 crore), in all other four - Delhi has topped over others. In the list Tamil Nadu is on the third position where amount of cheating is Rs 339 crore. Though, numbers of cases are only nine in Tamil Nadu.
The statistics however reflect the increasing number of economic offences in Delhi. Though Delhi police have a dedicated wing for economic offences led by a Joint Commissioner ranked officer, but it required to be strengthened more like other units feel the senior officers of the organization.