The Bombay High Court has granted interim relief to Ultra Lifespace Pvt Ltd and its three directors Mayank Shah, Jignesh Shah, and Tushar Shah in connection with an FIR alleging cheating of Rs38.12 crore. A bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Sandesh Patil, on November 19, directed that the investigation continue till the next hearing on December 10, but no chargesheet should be filed in the meantime.

The directors have sought quashing of the FIR, first registered at Bandra police station and later transferred to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW). Their lawyers, Aabad Ponda and Sujay Kantawala, argued that the matter stems from a commercial dispute and not a criminal offence.

The case originates from a complaint by Vijay Thakkar, 54, a builder from Vile Parle (West), who in 2014 booked three flats in a Bandra Reclamation project developed by Satra Buildcon Pvt Ltd (SBPL). Two flats were priced at Rs11 crore and the third at Rs11.75 crore. Thakkar paid Rs7.33 crore, after which a registered agreement was executed.

Under the agreement, construction was to be completed by December 2017, with the occupancy certificate (OC) within a year. In case of delay, the buyer was entitled to a refund with 18% interest, which Thakkar sought when the project failed to meet the deadline. SBPL later assured possession by December 2019 after redevelopment, but the project was subsequently handed over to Ultra Lifespace.

Ultra Lifespace obtained the OC in 2020 and began giving possession to other buyers. Thakkar alleges he was denied possession of all three flats and approached MahaRERA, which directed Ultra Lifespace to hand over possession and refund pending dues with interest. Thakkar claims Rs30.76 crore is owed and, along with Rs7.35 crore paid for development and maintenance, brings his total claimed loss to Rs38.12 crore.

Thakkar eventually lodged a complaint with the EOW alleging cheating and criminal breach of trust.

Ultra Lifespace directors argue that Thakkar misused police machinery to settle a civil dispute and suppressed crucial facts. They maintain that the original sale was completed under Praful N Satra, former director of SBPL. They claim Thakkar paid only Rs5.23 crore of the total Rs33 crore, leaving Rs27.77 crore unpaid.

The petition also alleges fabricated ante-dated letters from March 2018, permitting deferred payment after the OC. An FIR regarding this alleged forgery had already been lodged, which Thakkar allegedly concealed.

The Mayank Shah group took over SBPL in August 2019, later renaming it Ultra Lifespace. After the takeover, they secured the OC on March 2, 2020, and sent repeated reminders to Thakkar for outstanding dues. Both parties have challenged the MahaRERA order before the appellate tribunal and the High Court, where the matter remains pending.

The plea concludes that no ingredients of cheating are made out, noting: “Surprisingly, no allegation is made against Praful Satra.”

Mumbai, Nov 28: The Khar Police have registered an FIR against director, producer and writer Kaval Sharma for allegedly cheating actress Kiran Ahuja of Rs 71.50 lakh under the pretext of investing in movies and web series.

According to the FIR, Ahuja, 57, who resides in Khar West, has worked in the film Ready as well as various advertisements. In 2016, she was introduced to Sharma, 69, from Juhu through a friend.

The actress said that he told her he ran a company, Film Farming Entertainment Network India, based in Andheri and even offered her a role in a play, but she declined.

Seven years later, both of them met at an event and Sharma again proposed to work together, while offering her good returns upon an investment of Rs 3 lakh in a play, said the FIR, adding that Ahuja declined again.

In August 2024, Sharma allegedly contacted her and claimed that his production house was planning to produce a web series Luck by Exchange and a film. He apparently told the actress that if she invested Rs 60–70 lakh, she would earn Rs 1 crore. Ahuja said that she accepted the offer this time as Sharma was ready to accept money in instalments.

New Delhi, Nov 28: The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested a notorious repeat offender with 68 criminal involvements, securing a major breakthrough in a high-profile snatching case targeting an NRI woman earlier this year, the Delhi Police said on Friday.

The accused, identified as Tarun alias Gadam Wala, a resident of Aman Vihar, had been on the run for over seven months and was declared an absconder by a city court.

According to officials, the arrest was made by the Western Range-I team of the Crime Branch following specific inputs received on November 24.

Tarun, a listed Bad Character (BC) of PS Aman Vihar, had managed to evade multiple police teams after being implicated in a snatching incident involving a woman visiting Delhi from California.

The case, registered under FIR No. 508/2025 at Karol Bagh police station, pertains to an incident on April 5 when the complainant was returning after withdrawing cash from a PNB ATM on Padam Singh Road.

“On April 5, 2025 at about 11:50 a.m., after withdrawing money from PNB ATM, Padam Singh Road, two unidentified boys on a black scooty snatched her gold chain (approx. 15 grams) and fled towards Ganga Mandir Marg. She raised an alarm, but they escaped,” the police said in iots press note.

“During investigation, co-accused Rahul (driver) was arrested and recovery of the scooty and gold chain were affected. However, his associate Tarun alias Gadam Wala had been absconding since the incident,” it said.

A team led by Inspector Mahipal and supervised by ACP Satendra Mohan, acting on secret information and technical surveillance, tracked Tarun to Aman Vihar and apprehended him without incident.

During interrogation, police said, Tarun confessed to being the pillion rider who snatched the chain.

He revealed that Rahul had stolen the scooty used in the crime and that he received Rs 6,000 as his share after the chain was sold. He also told investigators that he is a drug user and committed the crime to fund his addiction. Tarun had been released from jail in January 2025 after serving time in another snatching case.

Police records show the accused has been involved in 68 cases related to snatching, theft, burglary, robbery, and Arms Act violations.

“His capture marks a major success in ongoing efforts to curb repeat offenders and strengthen public safety,” said DCP Harsh Indora.