NEW DELHI: A woman domestic helper, Archana Bera, in Kolkata has won a case against the promoter who cheated her of the home she spent her life’s savings on, reported Times of India.
Bera, who works as a housemaid in the Indian capital, was denied a flat in KP Roy Lane in south Kolkata’s Dhakuria as the other residents did not want her to be their neighbour.
Bera approached the consumer court against the promoter with the help of her lawyer and a few NGOs, and recently won the case. The promoter was ordered to hand the flat over to her within two months, and compensate her for the expenses of the court proceedings. He was also asked to pay a fine of Rs 50,000 to the victim.
Bera had booked the modest 375 sq ft flat in 2013 after paying Rs 7.98 lakh to the promoter. But at the time of moving, she was informed that the flat had already been registered in somebody else’s name, as the other flat owners had refused to accept a ‘maid’ as a neighbour.
The promoter promised to return her money, but went back on his assurances. Bera approached the police, and the issue was also highlighted by Ei Samay. She also wrote to the governor and the Chief Minister’s Office.
