The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has taken swift action following the arrest of two individuals involved in a fraudulent housing scheme. The incident unfolded when a plastic scrap trader, Rama Rao, suspected a fake payment receipt issued by someone named Masthan, raising concerns among authorities. Masthan and Sk Shakeela, operating under the guise of having VMC connections, promised affordable housing in Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) houses, targeting small-scale businessmen and daily wage earners. After collecting nearly 19 lakhs from ten victims, their deceit was exposed, leading to their arrest. The VMC and police have urged residents to avoid intermediaries in housing allocations, emphasizing official procedures and vigilance.
In a recent development, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has taken stringent measures after the arrest of two individuals involved in a fraudulent housing scheme. The incident came to light when a plastic scrap trader, Rama Rao, suspected that the payment receipt issued to him by a person named Masthan was fake. This has raised concerns among the authorities, who have issued a warning to beneficiaries of housing schemes to be cautious of fraudulent groups collecting money for house allotments.
According to reports from VMC and Two Town police, a man named Mastan, who operates a first aid centre at Kabela centre, in collaboration with another individual named Sk Shakeela, a resident of Old Raja Rajeswaripet, claimed to have connections within the housing wing of VMC. They promised to allocate affordable houses in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) houses constructed at Kabela centre in the city.
Their primary targets were small-scale businessmen and daily wage earners, from whom they collected up to 3.5 lakhs per flat. The issue came to light when Rama Rao, the plastic scrap trader, grew suspicious about the authenticity of the payment receipt issued by Masthan. Subsequently, he filed a complaint with the Two Town police, prompting an investigation into the matter. It was soon revealed that Masthan had no genuine affiliation with VMC and had been deceiving people.
Police disclosed that Masthan and Shakeela, working together, had collected approximately 19 lakhs from ten individuals through this fraudulent scheme. Both offenders have been arrested, and the case is currently under investigation.
Meanwhile, the Urban Community Development (UCD) and Housing wings of the VMC have issued a plea to residents not to trust intermediaries when it comes to housing allocations. The eligibility for beneficiaries of welfare schemes will be determined at the respective ward secretariats, and citizens are urged to follow the official procedures without involving middlemen.
The city's Mayor, Rayana Bhagya Lakshmi, has advised the public to report any instances where individuals demand money for availing benefits under welfare schemes.
This incident highlights the importance of vigilance and caution when dealing with housing schemes and other government welfare programs. It serves as a reminder for citizens to verify the authenticity of any claims made by individuals or groups offering services related to government schemes. Fraudulent activities like these not only deceive innocent people but also tarnish the credibility of genuine welfare programs designed to assist those in need.
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