Surat: The Economic Offences Cell (EOC) of city police has arrested a habitual fraudster who allegedly cheated six people of Rs 1.07 crore by luring them to invest in a proposed 11-storey hotel complex with apartment-style flats in Daman.The accused, Bharat Bharwani (52), a builder had launched the project under the name Sky Deck and began preliminary work on what he claimed would be a three-star hotel project. However, police said he later sold the land to another person and diverted the investors’ money for other purposes.According to police, Surat resident Arvind Chevli (72) invested Rs 60.54 lakh in the project. Bharwani collected a total of Rs 1.07 crore from six investors by promising them apartments in the project but failed to deliver any flats or returns.Officials said Bharwani is a serial offender with a long criminal history. At least seven cheating cases have been registered against him at Khatodara, Athwalines and Sachin police stations. In addition, 35 cheque bounce cases have also been filed against him.Due to his criminal record, the Surat police commissioner had invoked the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) Act against him in 2025 and sent him to jail.ACP (EOC) GA Sarvaiya said, “The accused would launch projects such as hotels or residential complexes and lure investors with promises of high returns. His modus operandi was to collect money during the project stage and then cheat the investors midway. He had launched the project on two plots in Kathiriya village in Daman but later sold the land.”Police are also searching for co-accused Vijay Mehta, who allegedly assisted Bharwani in the fraud.
