A Thane-based man was arrested by Kalachowky police for allegedly duping several people of Rs 1.42 crore in total, on the pretext of allotting inexpensive MHADA apartments. The accused was identified as Prashant Mestry, 42.

Complainant Ashok Gamre, 63, was searching for a flat in Mumbai. He came across an online advertisement of Mestry’s as a real estate agent. Gamre and his son contacted Mestry in October 2019 and later met him at his Lalbaug-based office.