Ten buyers of the Hillocks residential project in Dehradun have approached the Uttarakhand Real Estate Regulatory Authority after alleged fraud by absconding builder Shashwat Garg. RERA has initiated proceedings and fixed separate hearing dates for each complaint.
According to the complaints, buyers paid the full amount for their flats in the Rajpur-based Hillocks project, but sale deeds were not executed in their favour. Before completing registrations, Shashwat Garg allegedly fled Dehradun along with his wife, leaving several buyers without legal ownership despite near-completion of the project.
Officials said Garg was developing two residential projects in Dehradun, one in Rajpur under the name Hillocks and another in Raipur area of Thano. On October 16 last year, Garg reportedly went to his in-laws’ house in Hapur and subsequently went missing with his family.
Following his disappearance, complaints were earlier filed with RERA regarding the Raipur project. Acting on those complaints, RERA froze all transactions related to that project. The Hillocks project has now also come under regulatory scrutiny after fresh complaints were submitted by buyers.
A significant portion of the Hillocks housing complex has already been constructed, and several families are currently residing there. However, some buyers claim that despite clearing all dues, they were denied registration, raising concerns over compliance with real estate regulations.
RERA member Naresh Mathpal confirmed that all complaints related to the Hillocks project have been formally registered and will be heard periodically as per procedure. He said the authority is closely monitoring the case, especially in view of earlier action taken against the Raipur project.
The matter has also drawn attention from enforcement agencies. Based on an FIR registered by the police on a buyer’s complaint, the Enforcement Directorate has filed a case against Shashwat Garg and his wife under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Further action is expected as multiple agencies examine the financial trail linked to the projects.
