In a startling case of real estate fraud that has shaken Gurugram’s affordable housing sector, a local property dealer and three others have been booked for allegedly scamming over a dozen families out of nearly ₹1 crore. Victims, lured with the promise of subsidised flats under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota, say they were trapped through an elaborate scam involving impersonation, fake loans, and systematic betrayal of trust.
The Broker Who Didn’t Take a Fee
In the bustling real estate corridors along Gurugram’s Dwarka Expressway, property dealer Saurabh Yadav gained a reputation for being “helpful”, a man who didn’t charge brokerage to help tenants find homes in societies like The Roselia and The Proxima. But this seemingly benevolent approach was only the first step in what investigators are now calling a calculated long-term fraud scheme targeting vulnerable families desperate for home ownership.
According to Gurugram police, Saurabh Yadav, previously a tenant at The Roselia in Sector 95, fled the area earlier this year after multiple victims started confronting him. Police stated that he, along with three unidentified associates, misused the goodwill he built as a broker to later offer “exclusive” EWS flats in prime societies, allegedly collecting “processing fees” and “down payments” ranging from ₹7–12 lakh from over 14 families.
The police stated that once he earned their confidence through no-fee rentals, he introduced the EWS flat deals via WhatsApp messages, often offering steeply discounted rates compared to market prices.
One Apartment, Many Victims: A Recycled Trap
The story of Pooja Yadav, a private school teacher, illustrates the pattern. Between September 2023 and March 2024, Pooja was allegedly lured into paying over ₹10 lakh for a 2BHK flat in The Proxima, Sector 89, worth ₹37 lakh on paper. Saurabh claimed he could facilitate the deal under a government EWS scheme. Later, she discovered the apartment was already officially allotted to someone else.
Ms. Pooja stated that Saurabh Yadav and his team fabricated everything, the allotment letters, receipts, and even introduced men posing as bank officials to fake the loan paperwork. And when they began to suspect, he gave them written promises to repay and vanished again.
Police have confirmed that Saurabh used forged documents and impersonated financial officers to bolster the illusion of authenticity. An FIR under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) has been filed, and more charges may follow, including those under the IT Act and forgery statutes.
Mounting Pressure, Elusive Suspects: Will Victims Get Justice?
On Wednesday, Pooja and a group of similarly defrauded individuals met senior police officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police and the ACP, to demand swift arrests and recovery of funds. The suspects remain at large, and families say police previously summoned Yadav but allowed him to leave after written commitments.
In response to growing pressure, Sandeep Kumar, PRO of Gurugram Police, assured that they are collecting all victims’ statements and documentary evidence. Arrests will be made soon, and they are committed to recovering the lost money.
As more victims come forward, the scale of the fraud is expanding, potentially pointing to a wider racket exploiting government housing schemes and bureaucratic gaps in property verification.
About the author – Prakriti Jha is a student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, currently pursuing B.Sc. LL.B (Hons.) with a keen interest in the intersection of law and data science. She is passionate about exploring how legal frameworks adapt to the evolving challenges of technology and justice.