MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is hindering the inquiry into extensive land record tampering allegedly involving public officials who created numerous fraudulent city survey maps in Madh Island, according to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) during a hearing at the Bombay High Court on Tuesday.
A bench comprising Justices A.S. Gadkari and R.R. Bhonsale examined the SIT’s findings and witness statements alleging bribery among civic officials, as highlighted by petitioners. The court queried the public prosecutor about the absence of action against the implicating BMC officers despite available prima facie evidence. The prosecutor indicated that inadequate cooperation from BMC was a significant barrier.
Advocate Sumit Shinde, representing the petitioner, pointed out that last December, the High Court had instructed state revenue department officials and BMC to assist the SIT, yet issues with non-cooperation remain a concern a year later.
Furthermore, the court directed the additional commissioners of BMC’s western and eastern regions to meet with the SIT and provide detailed information regarding subordinate civic officers implicated in facilitating illegal constructions on coastal regulation zone land in Madh Island. The bench emphasized that identifying these officers is crucial for enabling appropriate actions by the SIT.
This hearing is part of a long-standing petition linked to many counterfeit maps impacting the suburbs, prompting the establishment of the SIT to investigate financial losses to the state. On Tuesday, following an order from the High Court on November 28, the SIT, led by the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), submitted an update on the investigation.
In February, the state government announced that the questioned maps had been sent to the forensic science laboratory, with reports still pending.
In prior directives, the High Court had instructed all relevant BMC ward officers, CRZ authorities, and district collectors to fully cooperate with SIT inquiries and provide any required documentation.
The bench also requested a status update from the BMC’s legal counsel before postponing the matter to January 27.
