Home buyer duped of Rs 40 lakh by conman

By Y. Maheswara Reddy |NT

Bengaluru: Here is an example of how one should not consider the luxurious lifestyle of a businessman as the yardstick to invest their hard earned money. One has to do due diligence before investing money or trusting people, who masquerade as businessmen.

Moses Karuna Mahews is now running from pillar to post to get back his money from a person who not only posed as a businessman, but also promised high returns. Mathews’ troubles began when he met Wilson Raj on May 28, 2020 through a real estate agent for a house on lease at Cassile Street on Hennur Main Road.

Wilson Raj agreed to lease out his house to Mathews for Rs 10 lakh. After a month, Wilson Raj came to know that Mathews was looking to buy a house with the money he got from selling his ancestral property.

“I told him that I am planning to buy a house in six months. Later, Wilson Raj told me that I have to invest money for one year with Kenchappa Hosamani, a resident of HSR Layout. He took me to Hosamani and told me that the latter had purchased the bungalow for Rs 9 crore. I transferred Rs 40 lakh through RTGS from State Bank of India Hennur branch (Rs 20 lakh in July, Rs 15 lakh in September and Rs 5 lakh in October 2020),” said Mathews.

Meanwhile, Hosamani paid Rs 3 lakh as dividend to Mathews till November and later went incommunicado. “Me and my son visited the bungalow where Hosamani used to reside. Neighbours informed me that he has vacated it,” said Mathews.

The victim tried to lodge a complaint with Hennur Police, but Wilson Raj allegedly prevented him. “Wilson Raj created a WhatsApp group with the people who invested money with Hosamani. He removed me from the WhatsApp group when I demanded him to get back his money from Hosamani,” says Mathews.

As if it is not enough, Wilson Raj has served a legal notice to Mathews to vacate the house where the latter is eligible to reside till June 2023 as per the lease agreement executed on May 28, 2020.

“I am in a dilemma what to do. I approached Hennur Police to lodge a complaint but the police did not help me,’’ rues Mathew.