Vadodara: The Gorwa police have registered a cheating case against a man for allegedly duping 16 people by promising them flats under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Vadodara. The accused, identified as Harish Chauhan, a resident of Akota, is absconding.According to a complaint filed by Varsha Pathak, a resident of Samta Road, she and her husband approached Chauhan at his office in Jan 2025 while looking to purchase a flat. Chauhan allegedly claimed to be an agent of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) and assured them of securing a house under PMAY in Subhanpura.When Pathak asked to see the flat, Chauhan reportedly told her that all formalities had to be completed first and an allotment letter issued. He then demanded money towards processing fees and other charges. Pathak alleged that she paid Rs 6.83 lakh in instalments. Chauhan also provided a receipt for the application and a purported VMC-stamped document.However, when Pathak later sought possession of the flat, the accused allegedly began evading her and eventually shut his office.Police said Chauhan similarly cheated 15 other persons, allegedly collecting around Rs 40 lakh before going into hiding.
