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India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Court shuts Rs 30,000 crore Mumbai land scam case involving real estate tycoon
A special court in Mumbai has accepted the closure report filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in a decades-old case against prominent builder Niranjan Hiranandani and others. The case involved allegations of misuse of land in Powai originally allotted for affordable housing that was allegedly used to construct luxury Judge SE Bangar accepted the ACB's closure report, saying that there was no proof of corruption, monetary gratification, or criminal conspiracy. The judge said, 'The ACB, Mumbai, has rightly concluded that no criminal offence warranting prosecution is made out,' and added, 'The closure reports are based on cogent investigation, verified compliance, and supported by judicial orders of the constitutional court.'advertisementThe allegations were linked to the Powai Area Development Scheme (PADS), executed by Lake View Developers—a Hiranandani Group entity—alongside the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) under a Tripartite Agreement signed on November 19, 1986. Activists had accused the developer of diverting concessional land, meant for affordable housing, to construct luxury flats, allegedly causing a Rs 30,000 crore loss to public funds. In 2012, the ACB registered an FIR following a sessions court direction based on a complaint by activist Santosh Daundkar. The complaint named Hiranandani, then Urban Development Department Secretary Thomas Benjamin, and unknown officers from MMRDA and BMC. Daundkar sought the case be handed over to the CBI and Enforcement ACB initially filed an "A summary" report in 2013, indicating insufficient evidence. This was rejected by the court in 2018. Following a re-investigation, a closure report was filed again in 2019, which Daundkar 2008 and 2010, three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) were filed by individuals including activist Medha Patkar, raising concerns over developments in the PADS region. However, while disposing of the PILs in 2023, the High Court found that construction and handover obligations were fulfilled. A court-appointed committee confirmed to these proceedings, the ACB said, 'In view of the PILs having attained finality, there is nothing brought on record by the Complainant to infer any element of any criminal offence whatsoever on the part of the alleged accused persons.'In its final report, the ACB said it found no evidence that officers of MMRDA, BMC, or the Urban Development Department engaged in illegal activities or that the developer breached any terms of the Tripartite Agreement or earned unlawful court also said that the High Court had 'conclusively examined' issues related to affordable housing obligations, flat amalgamation, and flat sales. During its investigation, the ACB found no breach of agreement terms, irregularities, or illegal actions by the accused. IN THIS STORY#Mumbai#Maharashtra
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Court accepts ACB closure report in Powai land ‘fraud'
ACCEPTING THE closure report filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), a special court has said that no criminal case is made out into allegations of a Rs 30,000-crore land fraud in Powai, clearing businessman Niranjan Hiranandani and others. The proceedings related to the allegations that in the Powai Area Development Scheme intended for affordable housing, losses were caused to the public exchequer by diverting the land for the construction of luxury apartments by developers, including Hiranandani. Special Judge S E Bangar on June 2 accepted the 29-page closure report filed by the ACB, while also rejecting a protest petition filed by activist Santosh Daundkar. 'There is no material worth the name to even create a suspicion indicative of any offence by the accused persons,' the court said. It also said that around 8,000 residents of the housing scheme have not filed any criminal complaints or supported the complainant, Daundkar, and ruled that he is neither a resident nor an investor in the scheme. Stating that the case was of a 'civil nature', the special court also said that proceedings before the Bombay High Court related to the housing scheme had been disposed of and in light of compliance done by the developers, nothing was brought on record to infer any criminal offence. The ACB began its probe into the allegations in 2012 but had filed a closure report in 2013, which was first rejected by the court in 2018 and a further probe was ordered. The ACB reinvestigated and again submitted a closure report in 2019, maintaining that no offence was found. The ACB said that the issues raised were that of policy and contractual violations and were not of criminal culpability. For development of the Powai area, a tripartite agreement was executed between the state of Maharashtra, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Hiranandani Developers Pvt Ltd on November 19, 1986, related to 232.32 acres of land. The agreement required development of 50 per cent flats each of 40 sq metres and 80 sq metres, and 15 per cent of the developed flats to be handed over to the state. It was alleged that instead of low-income affordable housing, unauthorised amalgamated luxury units were constructed, leading to commercial exploitation of land and violation of the terms of the agreement. The ACB, while seeking closure of the case, relied on orders by the high court, where separate proceedings were filed, referring to three Public Interest Litigations, which were disposed of in 2023. The ACB argued that the order settled the issue and no grievance remains. The high court had disposed of the PILs, observing that all contractual obligations under the 1986 agreement were fulfilled and compliance was made of its earlier interim orders, including directions for the construction of 2,661 flats of the agreed upon square metres and handing over of 256 flats to the government. Daundkar had claimed that the PILs addressed compliances with housing policy but criminal culpability remained. His plea seeking access to internal notings related to the scheme were rejected by the court stating that they were 'confidential'. 'There is no alleged breach of terms of the tripartite agreement, any other irregularities and illegal acts found to be committed by the accused/respondents,' the court said, putting an end to the long-pending proceedings.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Unmasked: Mumbai's parking mafia controls 60% of parking contracts
MUMBAI: A recent sting operation, which exposed corrupt practices at the pay-and-park facility at Kala Ghoda in South Mumbai, has uncovered a parking mafia that extends across a number of civic wards in the city. According to the whistleblower, whose information prompted the undercover operation, an astonishing 60-70% of parking contracts under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are controlled by a single individual. The operation that uncovered these alarming details was carried out at the parking facility outside the Jehangir Art Gallery. The attendant here attempted to overcharge senior civic officials who turned up incognito, and attempted to park their vehicles at the facility. The BMC, which recently lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against the pay-and-park contractor, discovered rampant overcharging and illegal parking in designated no-parking zones after activist Santosh Daundkar first raised the alarm on April 25. From 'A' ward to 'T' ward, Daundkar has detailed how these contractors, some with alleged criminal records, operate as a coordinated mafia, systematically exploiting the city's parking system with impunity. Daundkar, in his complaint letter dated April 25, 2025, to the BMC, stated, 'This dominance isn't the result of fair competition or efficiency. Rather, it's a product of systemic corruption, supported by middlemen, complicit civic officials, and elected representatives, all working together in a deeply entrenched racket that has plagued the city for years.' The letter adds, 'Key sites like Kala Ghoda, Jehangir Art Gallery and Gateway of India are governed by dubious contracts categorized under 'A' and 'B'. At these locations, parking attendants, often with criminal backgrounds, collect fees using handheld machines. However, the receipts they issue mention only the time of entry or exit, not the duration parked, making it easier to overcharge unsuspecting motorists. 'Moreover, these contractors deliberately avoid displaying BMC-mandated parking rate boards. They permit double-parking and exceed vehicle limits, leading to daily traffic jams and chaos in congested areas like Kala Ghoda. In several instances, car owners are even forced to surrender their keys, an outright violation of BMC norms. Yet, civic officials and police rarely intervene.' Daundkar said that individuals who dare question the overcharging or the absence of receipts are subjected to verbal abuse and threats. 'Organised commotion is often created to silence dissent. This creates not only a law-and-order concern but also subjects citizens to psychological harassment.' A striking example took place on April 19, near Rhythm House at Kala Ghoda. Despite a clear 'No Parking' sign, the contractor stationed vehicles and collected parking fees openly—indicative of the police's passive role in enabling these violations. Explaining the parking mafia's modus operandi, the whistleblower said the contractor consistently bids the highest amount during online tenders. 'Once contracts are awarded, they often file for arbitration to halt operations, citing lower ward-level rates. They then collude with ward officials to extend contracts, altogether skirting the tendering process. Even when parking contracts held by women's self-help groups expire, the mafia exploits proximity clauses to usurp adjacent spaces. These applications are swiftly approved by ward engineers. Shockingly, even if these illegal tenders are cancelled, the contractors receive their earnest money deposits (EMD) back, ensuring zero financial risk for them,' Daundkar told HT. A civic official from 'A' ward, who led the sting operation at Kala Ghoda, revealed that 45 contractors were operating in this ward. 'We registered FIRs at Jehangir Art Gallery and PB Gandhi Marg, where the agency operating was Yuva Berozgar Sahakari Sanstha Ltd. We've begun action against the others for violations such as not wearing uniforms and not displaying rate cards. A common complaint from citizens was overcharging—contractors were collecting ₹150 instead of the official ₹70,' the official said. As part of the operation, three private cars were used, and women junior engineers from the ward went undercover, wearing scarves and backpacks to avoid being recognised by the attendants, who were familiar with civic officials. Deputy municipal commissioner, Zone 1, Sangita Hasnale, also took part. She parked her car near the Bombay High Court and went incognito to observe the situation, first-hand. 'They were mostly parking vehicles in non-designated areas, where no official parking boards were displayed. In fact, in three lanes, 'No Parking' signs were deliberately covered. The attendants weren't part of our approved list. We've penalised several for these violations but have registered an FIR under Section 420 of the IPC at the MRA Marg police station, against one contractor so far,' Hasnale said.
