Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
As the layers of “The Kollage” scandal unfold, a distressing truth surfaces: MAHARERA, the authority meant to safeguard homebuyers, has become entangled in a web of corporate negligence and regulatory failure. What was marketed as a safe haven has devolved into a battleground marked by developer deceit, evasive regulators, and broken promises. The citizens who invested life savings in their “dream homes” are trapped in a real estate roulette – with dice rigged against them.
• A Shady Transition
Residential to Residential-Cum-Commercial – A vigilant resident of The Kollage filed an RTI with MAHARERA to clarify a potential covert transition of the project from residential to residential-cum-commercial. Instead of a clear “Yes or No,” MAHARERA provided an evasive response, deflecting the query to their own portal, despite a screenshot of it being included in the RTI. This avoidance raises serious concerns about the regulator’s commitment to holding developers accountable for unauthorized changes. By failing to give straightforward answers, MAHARERA undermines the public trust it was established to protect.
Also Read: Why Motilal Oswal Spending Crores On Media Advertisements?
• Vanishing Units
Sleight of Hand by Builders and Regulators
A disturbing discovery amplifies doubts about Zire Rushi Constructions, the developer behind The Kollage. Initially, the project was reported to have 79 units registered with the Dy. District Registrar; this number mysteriously dropped to 69 in the recent MAHARERA extension application under Section 7(3). Was this an error or deliberate deception? Such discrepancies demand investigation, as “vanishing units” open pathways to fraudulent practices if unchecked. Yet, MAHARERA’s silence is deafening, signaling a regulatory body detached from its duty to scrutinize.
• The Rubber-Stamp Regulator
Once hailed as the protector of homebuyers, MAHARERA has devolved into a rubber-stamp agency, approving project updates and developer submissions without scrutiny. Homebuyers are left questioning: who is MAHARERA truly protecting? With extensions granted seemingly on demand and developer information left unchecked, the regulator has failed its mandate, instead endorsing practices that deepen homeowners’ risks and losses.
In Mumbai and beyond, MAHARERA’s failure is not a bureaucratic blip—it’s a systemic negligence that compromises thousands of homeowners, undermining their financial security and safety. The Kollage saga highlights a clear message: MAHARERA’s mandate is broken, and buyers are bearing the cost.
Stay tuned as the Sprouts Investigation team delves deeper into The Kollage scandal, revealing the devastating impact of regulatory inaction on innocent homebuyers. In our upcoming piece, we’ll expose how bureaucratic blame-shifting entraps homeowners and why accountability has become a distant dream.
