Nagpur: Sakkardara police have registered a case against a man and a woman for allegedly cheating a teacher and 49 others of ₹46.72 lakh in a plot booking fraud dating back to 2008.

The accused have been identified as Mithilesh Ramesh Zade (38) and Rekha Ramesh Zade (56), both residents of Plot No. 40 near Shani Mandir in New Bidipeth, Nagpur. Police said neither accused has a previous criminal record.

According to the complaint filed by Dilip Keshavrao Lonare (63), a teacher from Hinganghat in Wardha district, Ramesh Zade, owner of Rameshwar Builders and Developers, had advertised plots in 2008 in Gram Panchayat Chargaon, Khasra No. 55/54.

Lonare and 49 other people allegedly booked plots after responding to the advertisement and paid money towards the proposed properties.

However, after Ramesh Zade died, the accused allegedly took over the transactions claiming to be his legal heirs. Despite accepting payments from Lonare and the other prospective buyers, they allegedly failed to provide the promised plots.

The complainant alleged that the accused collectively cheated the buyers of ₹46,72,031.

The affected buyers subsequently submitted complaints to the police. Following an inquiry into the allegations and on the orders of senior police officials, Sakkardara police registered FIR under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC on August 30.

Police are conducting further investigation into the alleged property fraud and the transactions involving the other affected buyers.