Police yet to trace builder Ghanshyam Patadiya

Trikam Patel,manager of the company who remained unavailable for a few days,has finally broken his silence. He told Newsline: “Money of over 70 people has been blocked. Thb.5

is is an issue of over Rs 50 crore. The people who bought his flats are in a dilemma because they have not got its possession. Those who had invested in the shares of Patadiya Infrastructure are also in a fix.”

Patel further said the owner of a local daily in Ahmedabad owes Rs 20 crore to Patadiya due to which the latter is in huge debts.

“The builder could have returned the money of many investors if he had that money. But the tussle between the owner and Patadiya has resulted in a scandal,” he claimed.

According to Patel,Patadiya,a native of Dhangadhra village in Surendranagar,entered the real estate field in 2002. The builder came up with Purshottam Bungalows,one of the plush homes of Ahmedabad in Thaltej,followed by Purshottam Residency and Purshottma Dham. Purshottam Bungalow is a 34-bungalow scheme.

Purshottam Dham had also courted controversy last year when multiple flats bought by the owner of a local daily were sold to other customers.

On the complaints and oppositions,Patel said: “There are many others who have been affected by this. But they are keeping a mum because a few have invested their black money and others are afraid of consequences. We do not know what to do about the investors and also staffers of the company.”

Patadiya is a member of Gujarat Institute of Housing and Real Estate Developers (GIHED). Suresh Patel,vice-president of GIHED,said: “He was an inactive member. We don’t even remember him being part of any activities of

GIHED. If a member of our institute is involved in such cases,we generally take stern steps. This is a sub-judicial matter and if it’s proven,the board of director will take a positive step.”