MUMBAI: The Bandra Police arrested builder Neeraj Kakad along with his assitant Vikas Kadam for allegedly cheating a Khar-based contractor of Rs 9.57 crore and threatening him with violence. They will be produced before the Bandra court. Police picked up Neeraj from his Bandra residence while his wife, son and his officials Ujjal Singh and Vikas Kadam are absconding
The complaint in the case was filed by Sohail Subedar, a civil contractor and partner in Khalifa Infrastructure LLP, he was introduced to Kakad through a mutual acquaintance in 2020. Subedar’s firm was awarded finishing and structural work for the Naik Kakad Niwas housing project at Bandra (West). The total value of the work, verified by the project engineer, was Rs 9.57 crore (excluding GST).
Subedar’s FIR stated that an MoU was signed on Dec 24, 2020, promising him Flat No. 101 (1,550 sq. ft.) worth Rs 6.51 crore in the same project as compensation for his work. A civil contract dated March 22, 2021, acknowledged his completed work of Rs 7.86 crore. Later, at Kakad’s request, he accepted a Rs 2 crore discount in return for a promised flat or compensation through another Andheri project. NKCPL issued a final receipt of Rs 8.33 crore, but allegedly failed to transfer ownership or make payment.
In April 2022, a Tripartite Agreement was signed between NKCPL, M/s Al-Amaar Developer, and Khalifa Infrastructure LLP, wherein Subedar was to receive a flat in exchange for another at Rafiq Residency. When Al-Amaar failed to obtain the Commencement Certificate (CC), Kakad allegedly coerced Subedar to secure it himself. He spent Rs 55 lakh and borrowed Rs 60 lakh to obtain the CC but was still denied the promised flat.
When Subedar demanded settlement, Kakad allegedly threatened him and his brothers, saying, “Ask my name in the market, don’t ever ask me for money again — I’ll break your legs.” The complainant said he was forcibly removed from the site by Kakad’s men.
Subedar later learned that the Kakad family had cheated other contractors similarly.
