The investigation revealed that the accused was the alleged mastermind behind a multi-crore real estate scam centering on a bogus housing scheme called Pragati Valley Project. (File photo)Wanted for over a decade, the alleged mastermind of a multicrore real estate fraud, who duped thousands of unsuspecting investors from Delhi with false promises of land ownership and high returns, was arrested on Wednesday, said police. In a week-long effort, a team of police officers resorted to disguises, carried out field-level verification, and coordinated with local informers to nab the accused, identified as Dattatray Ganpati Mohite, from Maharashtra’s Raigad, said officers.A resident of Karjat in Maharashtra, Mohite has multiple cases of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy filed against him. He was declared a proclaimed offender (PO) in four major FIRs registered with the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and one at the Amar Colony police station in South Delhi. A cash reward of Rs 50,000 had also been announced on his arrest.“The team worked tirelessly for over a week, disguising themselves as local contractors such as carpenters to gather actionable intelligence through multiple sources, supported by technical surveillance. Field-level verification and coordination with local informers revealed the presence of the top wanted criminal in Raigad district in Maharashtra, where he had been hiding to evade arrest for cheating and forgery cases,” said Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Sanjay Sain.“On June 18, after confirming the authenticity of the intelligence, a well-coordinated raid was conducted by the Cyber Cell team in Karjat. The team swiftly moved in and successfully apprehended the accused under Section 35(1)(D) of the BNSS,” he added.The investigation revealed that Mohite was the alleged mastermind behind a multi-crore real estate scam centering on a bogus housing scheme called Pragati Valley Project in the Karjat area of Navi Mumbai.With his firm, Pragati Land & Housing Corporation, and using over 70 fake estate agencies, he allegedly lured thousands of unsuspecting investors from Delhi with false promises of land ownership and high returns, said police. Using forged site plans, allotment letters, and misleading brochures, Mohite collected over Rs 20 crore from prospective buyers via cash and cheques.However, the project never existed, and the company abruptly ceased operations around 2010, with Mohite vanishing along with other directors.Story continues below this adAccording to the police, none of the promised land parcels were ever owned or approved, and no regulatory permissions were secured. The so-called estate firms served only as booking fronts to facilitate the scam. All documents presented to investors were later found to be fake.After his arrest, Mohite was produced before the court in Raigad, where a transit remand was obtained. He will now be brought to Delhi for further legal proceedings related to cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust, and conspiracy. Further investigation is underway to trace his co-accused, recover assets, and dismantle the wider network that supported his long run from the law, said police.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd