South Korean embassy cheated

Dealer promises to give property on rent, flees with Rs 57 lakh

The South Korean embassy has alleged that it was duped of Rs 57 lakh by a property dealer, who was approached by the embassy at Chanakyapuri for taking a building on rent at Kailash Colony.

Kim Kum Pyoung, South Korean embassy’s first secretary (culture and press), told police that the accused Yashwant Singh has been absconding.

Yashwant holds the power of attorney of a plot at Kailash Colony A Block, which is owned by US-based non-resident Indian Sateesh Kumar Singh.

“In pursuant to the understanding reached to open a Korean culture centre at Delhi in a meeting between South Korean president Lee Myung-bak and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the former’s state visit to India in January 2010, the embassy was looking for a suitable property on rent,” Kim said in the complaint.

The embassy had received several proposals from different property owners.

After having examined the proposals, it shortlisted the one at Kailash Colony.

Yashwant had told Kim that the entire four-storey building was available on rent.

He also emphasised that his friend’s brother had an office on the first floor, which would be vacated within three months.

“On the basis of the information provided and assurance given by Yashwant, the embassy signed in good faith an agreement for the entire building in December 2011.
“Yashwant also signed the possession letter and handed over the keys of the property to the embassy,” a police official said.

Paid in cheque

Yashwant was paid a cheque of Rs 57 lakh for the agreement, which he encashed.
But when the embassy tried to get a phone connection installed on the premises, the tenant on the first floor, Ashutosh Verma, objected to it and called police.

On Ashutosh’s disclosure, the embassy came to know that Yashwant had not only signed a lease agreement with Ashutosh in January 2011 for the first floor for three years, but had also signed another agreement in September 2011 for the entire basement, ground floor and second floor for a period of nine years.

Agreement signed

“As per the agreement signed between Yashwant and the embassy, Yashwant was supposed to hand over the keys of the building by March 31. But he failed to honour the terms of the agreement,” the official said.

“Having failed to hand over the keys, Yashwant had promised to return the money by April 30.

Case registered

“But he has not returned the money till date, while Ashutosh claims that Yashwant has taken Rs 2 crore from him,” the official added.

A case of cheating under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code has been filed against Yashwant over Kim’s complaint.

“No arrests have been made. We are investigating the matter,” the official said. Police said they will get more details of the case soon and are searching for the accused.