Bengaluru: The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested the managing director of Skyline Construction and Housing Private Limited and Kalmane Koffees, on charges of duping over 200 people to the tune of Rs 100 Crore in sale of apartments.

The accused Avinash Prabhu was detained after Christopher Regal, one of the victims, filed a complaint against him at the Hennur police station.

City Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar handed over the investigation to the Central Crime Branch (CCB).

Prabhu, along with his brother Dhiraj, came up with many under-construction apartments, namely Skyline Aurora 100, Skyline Retreat 87, Skyline Ocatia, Skyline Villa Maria, Skyline Waterfront, Skyline Blueberry and Best House.

The accused had taken 90 percent of the amount in advance from the potential apartment buyers but left the construction work midway and never handed over the apartments.

According to a senior police official, the amount received from potential buyers was invested in 11 coffee outlets across the city. The accused made huge returns from their investment in the coffee outlets and were leading a lavish life.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that Prabhu has purchased 5 acres of land in Kengeri, 3 acres in Allalasandra, 3 acres in Hennur, 7 acres in Kanakapura and 8.5 acres in Mangaluru. He has also purchased properies in and around the state and also in Chennai,” the officer said.

The CCB is trying to track Dhiraj, who is absconding since his brother’s arrest.