MahaRERA-Builder Collusion Exposed
• Kandivali Homebuyers Defrauded in Ruparel Optima Scandal
• Forged Consent, Delayed Homes
• 1,000+ Homebuyers Trapped in Debt as MahaRERA Extends Ruparel Optima Deadline to 2025
Over 1,000 homebuyers in Kandivali’s Ruparel Optima project face severe financial strain due to alleged collusion between builder Amit Ruparel and MahaRERA officials. Possession deadlines were extended to 2025 without buyer consent. The Sprouts News SIT uncovered forged documents and alleged collusion between builder Amit Ruparel and regulators, leaving families in debt and without homes.
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Homebuyer Fraud Exposed: Builder-MahaRERA Collusion in Kandivali’s Ruparel Optima Project
MahaRERA accused of colluding with builder Amit Ruparel, defrauding 1,000+ homebuyers in Kandivali’s Ruparel Optima. Delays, forged consents, and regulatory apathy uncovered by the Sprouts News Special Investigation Team.
Ruparel Optima Homebuyer Fraud: Builder-MahaRERA Collusion Exposed in Kandivali Project
Over 1,000 homebuyers in Kandivali’s Ruparel Optima project face financial ruin amid allegations of collusion between builder Amit Ruparel and MahaRERA Chairperson Ajoy Mehta. The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team has uncovered evidence of forged documents, illicit extensions, and regulatory apathy in a case that highlights systemic failures in Maharashtra’s real estate oversight.
Buyers report spiraling debts, forced asset sales, and deteriorating health as possession deadlines repeatedly extend without consent. The project, initially slated for December 2021, now faces a contested 2025 completion date, granted by MahaRERA without mandatory homeowner approvals.
This investigation reveals a pattern of alleged corruption and negligence, raising urgent questions about accountability within state regulatory bodies. The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team has documented similar irregularities in earlier Ruparel projects, suggesting broader implications for real estate governance.
Project Delays and Forged Consent: MahaRERA’s Controversial Role
Ruparel Optima, launched in February 2017, promised 1,360 1BHK apartments across three 42-story towers in Kandivali West. With units priced at approximately ₹80 lakh each, possession was initially set for December 2021. However, construction progress stalled shortly after inception.
MahaRERA granted an initial pandemic-related extension until December 2022, consistent with statewide policies. Yet a second extension to December 2025 was approved without obtaining legally mandated written consent from buyers, violating regulatory protocols.
Homebuyers allege their signatures were forged to justify the extension, with MahaRERA officials allegedly ignoring formal complaints. The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team reviewed documents suggesting procedural breaches and preferential treatment.
Also Read: Dera Bassi SDM Orders ATS to Halt Fees Under PAPRA Act.
Financial and Emotional Toll on Homebuyers
The extended timeline has devastated buyers, many of whom sold existing properties to fund installments. They now face dual financial burdens: ongoing EMIs and rising rental costs, with no certainty of eventual possession.
Banks have increased interest rates due to construction delays, exacerbating financial strain. Some residents have resorted to high-risk loans from informal lenders, pushing families toward bankruptcy.
Despite repeated appeals to MahaRERA, no remedial action has been taken. The regulatory body’s inactivity has forced buyers to seek recourse in consumer court, where cases remain pending without hearing dates.
Historical Pattern of Fraud: Ruparel’s Previous Controversies
This is not the first time Amit Ruparel has faced fraud allegations. A November 2023 investigation by Sprouts News exposed similar practices in Matunga’s Ruparel Realty project, where buyers were misled during redevelopment.
The repetitive nature of these incidents points to systemic oversight failures and possible regulatory complicity. The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team continues to track related projects, urging broader reform in real estate governance.
MahaRERA’s mandate to ensure transparency and protect consumers appears compromised, according to stakeholders and legal experts. The Kandivali case underscores the urgent need for independent audits and stricter enforcement of homeowner rights.
Appeals for Intervention and Accountability
Homebuyers are demanding immediate intervention from state authorities, including compensation for financial losses and penalties for implicated officials. They have also called for a CBI inquiry into MahaRERA’s handling of the project.
Legal experts emphasize that regulatory bodies must seek documented homeowner consent before approving extensions, as stipulated under Section 7 of the MahaRERA Act. Non-compliance constitutes a breach of statutory duty.
As construction progresses minimally at the Kandivali site, hopes fade among buyers who once envisioned timely homeownership. The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team will monitor developments, advocating for justice and accountability.
