The furore over MS Dhoni endorsing Amrapali Housing last week was just the beginning, as then came the videos of Gaursons MD and another builder threatening protesting residents. CNN-News18 dug deeper into the India's realty crisis, and more skeletons tumbled out.
It's not a fight for the houses that residents have paid for, but for their right. The Aam Aadmi is running from pillar to post to get his home.
It's the big middle class dream, perhaps the only one within their reach, to get a roof they can call their own. But in the Delhi suburbs of Noida, Faridabad and Gurgaon, the wait for a house is turning endless for more than one lakh fifty thousand buyers, of which many booked their flats in their early thirties are now into their forties.
A 33-year-old telecom professional, Yash Sinha, booked his flat with Ajnara Homes in 2010, and was promised possession three years later. But even in 2016, Sinha's flat looks nowhere near completion.
He has taken a loan of Rs 25 lakh, and pays Rs 22,000 as EMI in addition to a rent of Rs 15000 for his current accommodation. In addition to what's being lost in paying house rent, Sinha also lost out on income tax exemption on interest payment as the rebate is available only on property owned by the tax payer.
Another flat buyer, 46-year-old Indrish Gupta, is the only earning member of his family, which includes his mother, wife and two children. He booked a flat in Greater Noida in 2009 and has been waiting for possession since then.
"We booked the house because we were told that metro was coming there. Also because my workplace is near," said Gupta.
Talking about the response of the builder, he said, "There has been no response from builder. I even complained in the authority, but did not get any help there as well."
Gupta had paid Rs 4 lakh from his savings to book the flat with Today Homes. He then took a loan of Rs 11 lakh for down payment, and has been paying a monthly EMI of Rs 11,500.His son and daughter, who were in primary school at the time of booking, will be joining college in the next two years.
His wife said, "We were very happy when we booked the flat. Kids were small but are now in class 11 and 12. Still we haven't got out home. It seems our dream will remain a dream."
Similar is the plight of Raj Kishore Gaur, a senior citizen who spent his entire savings to book a flat in Gurgaon five years ago. The 67-year-old paid the entire amount of Rs 35 lakh from his savings, which included proceeds from a shop he owned.
A heart patient with two stents, Gaur is now forced to make trips to Chandigarh every month, where he and other buyers have moved court against the builder Adel Landmark Limited. Having shut his business, he is now struggling for a way to fund his son's post graduation.
With no help from any quarters, hope is what has kept thousands of home buyers going.
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