The Supreme Court of India ruled in favor of a buyer who was misled about a property's mortgage status, highlighting the critical need for due diligence in real estate transactions. The buyer had initially paid ₹4.45 crore for the property but later discovered that the seller had concealed an existing loan against it. Despite promises from the seller to clear the mortgage, the buyer was ultimately deceived, leading to a lengthy legal battle. The court determined that sellers have a legal obligation to disclose all material facts, and failure to do so constitutes fraud. This ruling reinforces the necessity for buyers to secure an Encumbrance Certificate and conduct a CERSAI search to uncover any hidden encumbrances. The judgment also clarified that buyers cannot be blamed for not inspecting original title deeds held by banks, as such ignorance is often a result of the seller's deceit. Furthermore, the court emphasized that clear documentary evidence of fraud takes precedence over any contradictory statements made during legal proceedings.