Homebuyer protections under MahaRERA are under strain in the Poddar Riviera Project, where repeated adjournments, alleged trust land violations, and stalled construction have prolonged uncertainty. Despite statutory mandates for time-bound relief, proceedings have dragged on, benefiting the developer while allottees face delayed possession and ownership risks. The case highlights growing concerns over whether regulatory mechanisms are effectively safeguarding consumer interests in complex, high-value real estate disputes.

Contents

RERA Relief for Homebuyers Weakening as Builder Delays Rise in Poddar Trust Case
Poddar Riviera Project Raises Serious Land Ownership and Trust Law Concerns
Financial Instability and Alleged Misrepresentation Before MahaRERA
Regulatory Oversights and Risks Faced by Flat Allottees
Delayed MahaRERA Proceedings Expose Alleged Builder Bias in Poddar Riviera Case
Exposed by Investigative Journalism

RERA Relief for Homebuyers Weakening as Builder Delays Rise in Poddar Trust Case

MahaRERA’s prolonged proceedings and regulatory lapses in the Poddar Riviera project raise serious concerns over weakening homebuyer protections. Alleged land encroachment, financial instability, and misrepresentation have left flat allottees exposed to uncertainty, delays, and potential loss of ownership.

Relief for residential homebuyers under the Real Estate Regulatory Authority appears increasingly elusive, raising serious concerns about whether regulatory delays now disproportionately benefit powerful builder lobbies over distressed apartment allottees.

A preliminary assessment of MahaRERA proceedings reveals an alarming pattern where adjournments sought by developers steadily increase, while time-bound consumer relief, mandated under the RERA Act, remains largely unfulfilled.

Section 29 of the RERA Act clearly mandates that complaints must be disposed of within sixty days of filing, except in exceptional circumstances, which must be formally recorded with reasons.

However, in practice, prolonged hearings and repeated adjournments undermine statutory timelines, placing homebuyers at a disadvantage while developers continue enjoying regulatory indulgence without meaningful consequences.

This widening gap between legislative intent and ground-level implementation has raised questions over whether MahaRERA’s adjudicatory framework is adequately protecting consumer interests in high-value real estate disputes.

MahaRERA Order Copy of Poddar Riviera project – Click to view

Poddar Riviera Project Raises Serious Land Ownership and Trust Law Concerns

One such contentious case involves the Poddar Developers Riviera Project in the Mumbai region, where the legal foundation of apartment ownership itself has come under intense scrutiny.

The developer allegedly constructed a 400-apartment residential project on land belonging to a charitable religious trust, without obtaining mandatory permission from the Charity Commissioner as required by law.

Records indicate the trust remained unaware of the encroachment for a considerable period, while Poddar Developers allegedly violated a “status quo” order issued by the Charity Commissioner.

With construction remaining largely stagnant for years, aggrieved flat allottees approached the MahaRERA Mumbai court seeking relief against Poddar Developers for project delays and alleged misrepresentations.

Subsequently, the charitable trust also initiated proceedings before MahaRERA, challenging the developer’s legal authority to build on the disputed land.

During hearings, several troubling disclosures emerged, highlighting deep-rooted financial and compliance irregularities associated with the project under investigation.

Financial Instability and Alleged Misrepresentation Before MahaRERA

Despite allegedly collecting nearly ₹60 crore from apartment buyers, Poddar Developers admitted before MahaRERA that it lacked sufficient funds to progress beyond preliminary construction stages.

The developer expressed intentions to transfer the project to another builder, citing financial distress, though such plans reportedly failed to materialise due to lack of investor interest.

Subsequent claims of pursuing alternate financing sources remain unsubstantiated, as Poddar’s 2023–24 annual financial disclosures do not demonstrate financial capacity to complete the project.

Critically, assurances made before the RERA court regarding delivery timelines lack documentary proof of financial closure, leaving allottees exposed to continued uncertainty.

Further scrutiny revealed that Poddar Housing allegedly suppressed material facts while applying for RERA registration, including ongoing litigation concerning land ownership.

The developer is accused of submitting a misleading affidavit on land title, employing ambiguous language in statutory Form B, suggesting possession of documents rather than lawful ownership.

Additional violations include failure to submit Quarterly Progress Reports, non-disclosure of pending cases, and non-compliance with mandatory website disclosures.

Also Read: Mumbai Civic Polls Ward 8 Voter List Changes Questioned.

Regulatory Oversights and Risks Faced by Flat Allottees

MahaRERA’s compliance division imposed penalties on the developer for repeated violations, and on 19 March 2025, ordered the project kept in abeyance under Section 11(1).

However, adjudicatory authorities reportedly did not insist on concrete financial proof, relying instead on assurances offered in “good faith” by a repeatedly non-compliant developer.

Most critically, authorities appear to have overlooked the foundational issue that the land legally belongs to a charitable trust, warranting outright rejection or suspension of registration.

The failure to act decisively has allowed continued construction activity on disputed land, exposing buyers to risks of title invalidation, possession delays, and irreversible financial losses.

For apartment allottees, consequences include potential loss of homes, escalating costs, mounting EMIs, prolonged rentals, and severe mental stress, undermining the very objective of RERA.

Sprouts News Special Investigation Team notes that unless accountability mechanisms are enforced uniformly, regulatory credibility risks erosion, leaving homebuyers vulnerable to systemic exploitation.

Delayed MahaRERA Proceedings Expose Alleged Builder Bias in Poddar Riviera Case

MahaRERA’s delayed proceedings in the Poddar Riviera case expose alleged systemic failures favouring developers. The project involves alleged fraudster Dipak Kumar Poddar, alleged fraudster Richard Wilson, and alleged fraudster Rohitashwa Poddar, amid accusations of land encroachment, financial misrepresentation, and grave risks to homebuyers.

Exposed by Investigative Journalism

The alleged scam has been exposed by Unmesh Gujarathi, an Indian investigative journalist, whose findings highlight regulatory lapses, disputed land ownership, and deceptive practices undermining homebuyer protections.