We were to get possession of our dream home in Bengaluru's ‘Prakruthi Solitaire’ in 2014. The builder is Rupesh Anand, owner of the famous Nandhini Hotels chain.
There are 2 phases in the project. Buyers had booked the flats in 2013 under phase 2. We are almost at the end of 2019 now and we still don’t have possession of the flat. Few of the homebuyers purchased the flat based on the builders’ offer of pre-EMI reimbursement scheme. As per this scheme, the builder was supposed to reimburse the pre-EMI amount paid to the bank till residents get possession. However, the building is not complete and the premises lack basic facilities such as permanent electric connections, lifts, security personnel. The plumbing work is incomplete with several leakage issues. Most of the owners are staying on rent as well as paying pre-EMIs for the last 7 years.
Builder Irresponsive
Initially, the project was progressing at a normal pace and was expected to be completed by December 2014. However, there was a sudden slowdown in the construction. When approached, the builder started evading the question under some pretext or the other. He was, however, assuring us the fact that the penalty and pre-EMI (promised in the agreement) will be paid. However, those payments stopped in 2015, the reason being that all funds were diverted towards completion of the project. Therefore, since September 2015, the builder has not remitted the interest amount as per his commitment.
Beginning April 2016, buyers made various requests to the builder for completing the project, providing promised amenities, handing over the flats, and repaying penalty and accumulated interest amount. The builder only made false commitments.
On 3 September 2016, we met the builder at his office and he committed to us in writing that the handover of flat will be made by 30 September 2016, with all amenities made available by December 2016.
However, as we realised later, the builder only wanted to pacify the buyers and to date, even after multiple follow ups, the project is not complete. Few of the buyers who were overburdened financially took possession of incomplete flats.
State of Facilities Far From What Was Promised
The entire property is infested with mosquitoes. There is no waste management, stray dogs and snakes are a common sight. There are no security guards and there are naked wires and open manholes everywhere.
We paid approximately Rs 70 lakhs in addition to the EMI and rent. Families moved in an unfinished housing society knowing the danger of the living conditions.
We have also staged demonstrations in front of the builders’ house, only to be threatened not to protest again. We also went to RERA but every time we get a hearing date it is surprisingly cancelled a day prior. RERA Karnataka is toothless. More than 10 court cases are running against Mr Rupesh Anand and his father.
We want to be compensated for the delay in possession, for the harassment, and for mental agony caused to us. All our hard-earned money is lost. Homebuyers who have already moved in are further distressed because they are the ones who face regular threats, either from the construction quality or from builders’ goons.
(The Quint has reached out to Nandhini Group for a comment. The story will be updated if there is a response.)
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