Multi Crore Scam In Building Development
• Scam Uncovered: Officials Falsify Records to Benefit of Builder!
• Sprouts News SIT Exposes Massive Corruption in Vikhroli Development!
• Government Loses approximately ₹1,000 Crore! Who Will Be Held Accountable?
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Excludive
A shocking ₹1,000 crore scam has been uncovered by the Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Building Proposal Department at Vikhroli, where officials falsified records to favor a developer. This fraudulent act has led to a significant revenue loss for the Government of Maharashtra.
• Fraudulent Manipulation of ULC Compliance
According to a complaint filed by Shri Shyam Narayan Jadhav with the Anti-Corruption Department, the scam revolves around a 29,253.21 sq. meter land parcel in Vikhroli. The land was originally granted an exemption under Section 20 of the Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) Act by the Directorate of Industries on August 14, 1978, to M/s. Hindustan Feredo Company Limited.
In 2010, the company sold the land to a developer, who later submitted a development proposal. The Eastern Suburban Building Proposal Department issued an Intimation of Disapproval (IOD) on April 30, 2010, with a critical condition: the developer had to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) under the ULC Act before further approvals.
However, Sprouts News SIT reveals that officials in the Building Proposal Department at Vikhroli tampered with official records to remove this condition. They falsified documents to state that ULC clearance was not required, allowing the developer to proceed with construction without following the government ULC conditions
• Maharashtra Government Faces approximately ₹1,000 Crore Revenue Loss
This fraudulent approval process has caused an estimated ₹1,000 crore loss to the Government of Maharashtra. The Competent Authority raised serious concerns and issued inquiries on March 19, 2021, April 23, 2021, and April 29, 2021, questioning the Building Proposal Department on how approvals were granted without ULC clearance. The department was directed to conduct an immediate investigation.
Also Read: Motilal Oswal Financial Services Faces Backlash Over Alleged Investor Mismanagement.
• Stop-Work Notice Issued But Too Late
Following official pressure, the Eastern Suburban Building Proposal Department conducted an internal inquiry and issued a Stop Work Notice. However, Sprouts News SIT reveals that the notice was meaningless because all buildings had already received Occupation Certificates (OC), making any corrective action impossible.
• Repeated Complaints Ignored – No Action Taken
Despite multiple complaints from Shri Shyam Narayan Jadhav to the Anti-Corruption Department and the Municipal Commissioner, no action has been taken against those responsible for this serious economic offence.
This investigation by Sprouts News SIT exposes deep-rooted corruption within government departments and raises serious concerns about accountability. Will the authorities act, or will this ₹1,000 crore scam be buried under bureaucracy?