Hyatt Regency Owners Allegedly Cheated Approximately 16 Cr, Delhi Police EOW Also Alleged of Protecting The Accused

Delhi Police’s EOW had registered a case against Hotel Hyatt Regency owner Shiv Kumar Jatia, his son Amritesh Jatia and the CA for cheating a senior citizen of crores of rupees. It is alleged that an IPS officer did not even allow the arrest of the accused to save the white-collar influential suspects in a well planned manner.

The owner of Hyatt Regency Hotel, along with his son and a chartered accountant, cheated a senior citizen of about Rs 16 crore. The Economic Offenses Wing of Delhi Police registered a case in this matter. But the case of forgery of crores of rupees did not witness arrest of the influential accused. The charge sheet was also filed in the court without arresting anyone. In this case, a senior IPS officer is being accused of helping the main accused.

Cheated by alluring the victim

According to the available documents, senior citizen Shivraj Krishna Gupta lives with his family in a South Delhi neighborhood. In February 2015, he was approached by Girish Sarin, a chartered accountant. The CA told that Shiv Kumar Jatia, owner of Hotel Hyatt Regency, is preparing a luxurious residential scheme in an area of about 245 acres in Tirakal village of North Goa through his company, Leading Hotels Ltd and along with the famous American Company, Four Seasons chain, an 18-hole championship golf course will also be built. Not only this, the victim was told that 125 standard and 60 luxury cottages are being built there and all permissions have been taken. The senior citizen was delighted to know from CA Sarin that villas would be sold to selected people only and Shiv Kumar Jatiya has selected you as among the chosen ones.

Taken away 10 crores

CA Sarin told Shivraj Gupta that luck does not knock twice. He said, ”You book a luxury villa in it.” Believing Sarin, he booked the villa by giving a check of 10 crore rupees. In lieu of this he was given an agreement letter on 31 July 2015 under which a luxury villa –24 was allotted in his name. This villa was to be prepared by July 31, 2019, for possession of Gupta. During this time, he was also promised that he would continue to get a 12.5% annual return till he gets possession of the villa.

Took about 7.5 crores in cheques again

In his complaint to the police, Gupta told that in January 2017, Sareen met him again and said that Shiv Kumar Jatiya and his son were working very hard on project, but due to some reasons, they are facing minor financial problems. The CA said, ”If you give Rs 7.45 crore as a short-term loan, then the work will be done quickly. In return, you will also be given returns at rate of 12.5 percent per annum.” Trusting him Gupta agreed and paid through cheques from January 2017 to August 2018. Out of which he was later returned Rs 2.05 crore.

Feared he was being scammed

Later Gupta came to know that construction of the villa in name of which about 16 crore rupees had been taken from him, is not being done there, because NGT had stopped the project due to a legal dispute. This was also mentioned in the Director’s Report of 2014-15 and 2019-20 of Asian Hotels North India headed by Jatia himself. When asked about this, Jatiya assured him in presence of his son and CA Sarin that his money was safe and gave advance cheques to Gupta in June 2020 adding the amount and interest given by him as security.

Got shock of cheating after knowing reality 

But seeing his life-long capital at risk, Gupta gathered information about the project and was shocked to know that no construction was really going on at Goa site. When he deposited the cheques received as security in the bank in January and March 2021, he came to know that the bank account had been closed by stopping cheque payments.

Filed Police complaint in December 2021

Shocked by fraud of 16 crores, Shivraj Gupta filed complaint of cheating to the Commissioner of Delhi Police on 28 December 2021. After preliminary enquiry, on January 18, 2022, EOW started investigating by registering a case under sections 406, 420, and 120B of IPC. During this time, the then Special Commissioner of EOW was relieved from Delhi Police and Joint Commissioner of Police Chhaya Sharma was entrusted with the responsibility of heading the sensitive department.

EOW also stands accused

Surprisingly, the EOW did not arrest a single accused in this case. They even filed charge sheet before the court in August 2022, after 8 months of registration of the case. It is alleged that an IPS officer posted as Joint Commissioner has hugely helped the accused. This is the reason that despite all the evidence, none of the accused was even arrested. If sources are to be believed, EOW has played big role in helping the white-collar crime accused in this case.

Who is Shivraj Jatiya and Sarin

According to the case filed, Shiv Kumar Jatia is the director of Asian Hotel North India, the company that operates the famous Hyatt Regency Hotel in Delhi. His son Amritesh Jatia is also a director. He had prepared the project of Goa through another company Leading Hotels Limited. TheProject’s budget was around Rs 505 crore. Chartered Accountant Girish Sarin, as the responsible authority for raising funds was his fund advisor. In lieu of this ‘service’  he is also paid by the company.