Politicians, mediators exert undue influence over real estate promoters: HC

Madurai: Nowadays some politicians and political intermediaries exert undue influence over real estate promoters, and such people criminally intimidate the promoters into executing sale deeds in respect of flats at prices substantially below the prevailing market value, Madras high court observed while dismissing the bail plea of a couple who were arrested for cheating and threatening a real estate promoter in Madurai.The court was hearing the bail petition filed by Jai Balaji and his wife, Kalavathi, who were arrested by the Central Crime Branch of Madurai city police in Feb.The case of the prosecution is that complainant Seetharaman, a real estate promoter, promoted a layout development project near Ponmeni in Madurai in 2024. The first accused, Jai Balaji, is alleged to have approached Seetharaman, claiming he wields considerable political influence and had close acquaintance with the former mayor of Madurai corporation and her husband. Balaji also allegedly claimed that he was the personal assistant to a sitting minister.Balaji assured the obtaining of necessary permissions and infrastructural facilities required for the project, including underground sewage connection, common road access, and drinking water connection. It is also alleged that Balaji obtained a sum of 50 lakh from the complainant in addition to securing the sale deeds for two flats at a reduced value in his name and his wife's name. Since Balaji failed to fulfil his promise, Seetharaman lodged a police complaint. Police arrested the couple.Justice K K Ramakrishnan observed that some politicians and political intermediaries compel the promoters to pay illegal gratification. Promoters are forced to execute and register sale deeds for a meagre consideration. However, after obtaining the registration, the people concerned allegedly fail to fulfil the promises made at the time of execution of the sale deed. The petitioners projected themselves as close associates of the then mayor of Madurai corporation. By wielding such purported political influence, they extracted money from the complainant and obtained sale deeds for consideration far below the market value, the judge observed.The judge observed that following the registration of the criminal case, the petitioners are alleged to have instigated their associates to threaten the complainant to withdraw the complaint, leading to the registration of another FIR. Balaji is involved in another economic offence involving large-scale cheating of the public. Considering the objections raised by the prosecution and that the investigation is at a nascent stage, the judge dismissed the couple's bail petition.The court was also hearing the anticipatory bail petition of the associates of the couple - Saravanasundar, M Ramakrishnan, P S S Bagyalakshmi and A Nagalingam. They allegedly trespassed into the house of the complainant and criminally intimidated him to withdraw the complaint.