A 30-year-old Noida resident, Prashant Pandey, was cheated out of ₹1.25 crore by four individuals on the false promise of selling him a flat in a premium high-rise society in Beta 2, Greater Noida. The accused, including the purported flat owner, his family members, and a society salesman, are now facing criminal charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Pandey, who had been living in a rented flat in the same housing complex in Sector Beta 2, decided in August 2024 to buy a property within the same society. Lured by the familiarity and location, he trusted a society-affiliated salesman who claimed that a flat was available for sale, owned by a man who had shifted to Maharashtra.
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How the Scam Unfolded: A Tale of Lies, Loan Dues, and Vanishing Sellers
According to the First Information Report (FIR) lodged at Beta 2 Police Station, the flat’s alleged owner, identified as Sushil Kumar Tuli, informed Pandey that there was an outstanding home loan on the property which he would settle before handing over the ownership papers. Trusting this assurance, Pandey first paid ₹5 lakh in advance on January 18, 2025, after Tuli claimed he was short of funds to close the loan.
Just 12 days later, on January 30, Tuli allegedly visited Pandey’s home and handed over loan clearance papers as proof of closure. Subsequently, Pandey transferred an additional ₹1.20 crore as part of the agreed ₹6 crore flat deal.
However, by February 2025, when Pandey tried to contact the seller to proceed with the legal formalities, he received no response. Repeated calls and messages were ignored. Upon contacting the society salesman, Nitin Chawla, he was shocked to learn that the flat had already been sold to someone else. Worse still, when he protested, Chawla allegedly threatened him with dire consequences if he pursued the matter.
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FIR Filed: Flat Owner, Family, and Salesman Booked for Cheating and Criminal Intimidation
Following a preliminary investigation, the Beta 2 Police registered a case on Thursday against Sushil Kumar Tuli, his wife Nalini Tuli, their son Vinay Tuli, and salesman Nitin Chawla. The case includes charges of cheating, breach of trust, criminal intimidation, and intentional insult, all under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
SHO Vinod Kumar of Beta 2 Police Station confirmed the registration of the FIR and said that investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the fraud and trace the money trail. Police are also trying to determine if the accused have used similar tactics to defraud other buyers in the past.
This case sheds light on the growing number of real estate scams in urban areas, especially in Tier-1 cities like Noida and Greater Noida, where unsuspecting buyers are frequently targeted by organized property fraud rings. Authorities have urged citizens to conduct thorough due diligence, verify ownership records, and avoid making large transactions without legal documentation and registration.
As property prices surge and housing demand rises in urban India, real estate scams continue to evolve in sophistication. Prashant Pandey’s case is a stark reminder that even well-informed buyers can fall prey to fraudsters using fake documents and high-pressure tactics. Law enforcement agencies are now working to ensure justice is delivered and such frauds are curbed through stricter vigilance and legal action.
