Nightmare in Prestige Langleigh: Bengaluru Tenants Face Harassment, Lockout, and False Allegations Over Villa Dispute
What began as a dream home quickly turned into a psychological and legal battleground for four professionals renting Villa 101 in one of Bengaluru’s upscale gated communities.
In the heart of Bengaluru’s prestigious Prestige Langleigh Phase 1, a group of tenants — all working professionals — found themselves ensnared in a web of deceit, harassment, and legal threats. What started as a peaceful rental turned into a distressing saga involving cut-off utilities, police complaints, and an illegal eviction — all tied to a disputed 4BHK villa and a hefty ₹5 lakh security deposit.
One of the tenants, Priyansh Agarwal, a tech employee at Google, took to social media to expose the ordeal. According to Agarwal, the villa was pitched as a luxury accommodation. For the first few months, it lived up to that promise. But by the seventh month, things took a dark turn.
Essential Services Disrupted Over Hidden Dues
Without warning, the society began cutting off basic amenities — power backup, garbage collection, and even access to the gym and pool. Matters worsened when the water supply was nearly blocked. Investigation revealed a shocking truth: the landlady hadn’t paid society maintenance charges for years, a detail she never disclosed to the tenants. Despite paying her maintenance fees monthly, the tenants learned they were unknowingly part of a legal battle between the landlady and the society.
“She told us she’d get a stay order soon and to keep paying her,” Agarwal said. “But every time we asked for proof or progress, she had excuses.”
Warnings From the Past — And a Trap Set for the Present
The situation escalated when previous tenants reached out, warning of a disturbing pattern — unreturned deposits, verbal abuse, and false accusations. Alarmed, the current tenants decided to terminate the lease early. But the landlady refused, hoping to keep the rent flowing as she knew no one else would occupy a property with suspended services.
Eventually, the tenants stopped paying rent, requesting that it be adjusted from their security deposit. An agreement was signed: she would find a replacement tenant in 45 days or refund the deposit. If not, the existing tenants could stay rent-free.
Threats, False Cases, and an Illegal Eviction
The 45-day deadline passed without any new tenant. When the tenants continued living rent-free, the landlady resorted to threats — including the possibility of filing a false women harassment case. Afraid of being trapped in a bogus FIR, the tenants installed CCTV cameras to protect themselves.
That foresight paid off. While they were away, the landlady allegedly entered the property without consent, harassed their domestic help, took the keys, and locked them out — illegally evicting them with all their belongings still inside.
Police intervention followed, but the conflict only resolved after the involvement of the tenants' family members with influence. Only a portion of the deposit was returned. The tenants chose to vacate — not because they were forced to, but because they had reached their breaking point.
A Lesson for Renters Everywhere
“This entire episode took a toll on our mental health,” Agarwal shared. “We had to deal with anxiety, take leave from work, and constantly fear a false legal case. And shockingly, we weren’t her first victims.”
Agarwal concluded with a word of caution: “Always speak to former tenants, neighbors, and staff before renting. Appearances can be deceiving — and in gated communities, you can be locked in just as easily as you can be locked out.”
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