MUMBAI: A severe housing scam is currently unraveling in the Vasai-Virar suburb, jeopardizing homebuyers amid collusion with civic officials. Unchecked construction mafias are building unauthorized structures using forged Commencement and Occupation Certificates. These illegal properties are subsequently sold to unsuspecting buyers, offering the false promise of legal approval—an alarming fraud with dire repercussions.
Death Trap
A senior officer from the Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) Police confirmed that the Ramabai Apartment, which tragically collapsed in Virar, claimed 17 lives and was constructed by a fraudulent builder using fake certificates. “When a builder resorts to forging Commencement or Occupation Certificates, they are not just committing fraud—they are constructing a death trap,” the officer, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated.
Allure of Affordability
As Mumbai’s real estate prices soar beyond the financial reach of middle-class families, the Vasai-Virar area has become an attractive option for those seeking budget-friendly housing. However, this pursuit of affordability hides a perilous trap. Desperate buyers are drawn to seemingly legitimate, low-cost housing, only to later realize they have purchased unsafe, illegally constructed homes, often without any means for legal recourse.
Legal Loopholes
Disturbingly, even when law enforcement is aware of the fraud, they find themselves legally constrained. “Even though we know a builder is employing forged documents, we cannot register an FIR. The complainant must be a civic official, not an individual,” explained the MBVV officer. This gap in the law has fostered an environment where corrupt developers can operate freely. “This is why illegal constructions are proliferating across many suburbs, including Vasai-Virar,” the officer added.
The Bombay High Court has similarly criticized the narrow focus on developers in these cases. During a 2022 hearing on a forged certificate in Nallasopara, Justice Bharati Dangre remarked, “The Investigating Officer must explain why no officials from the Corporation have been implicated. It’s evident that the Planning Authority is responsible for overseeing its territory and monitoring new constructions.”
Blocked by Bureaucracy
Efforts from proactive police officers have met with apathy from the bureaucracy. The MBVV police reportedly sent multiple requests to the then Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) Commissioner Anil Kumar Pawar, urging the placement of Assistant Municipal Commissioners (AMCs) to oversee illegal construction.
“However, Pawar did not respond despite repeated reminders,” an officer stated. “His lack of response created a legal hindrance, effectively protecting rogue developers.”
Monitoring Failures
Police also allege that numerous watch stations (chowkies) were established under Pawar’s administration to monitor illegal building practices. “Yet, what happened to those chowkies?” questioned an officer. “They exist only on paper, just like the fraudulent OCs.”
Systemic Corruption
Terence Hendriques, an RTI activist, expressed a common sentiment: “Until corrupt officials are prosecuted, the construction mafias will continue to thrive in Vasai, Virar, and Nallasopara, which have become hotspots for illegal construction.”
Another activist, Sudesh Choudhary, emphasized the presence of systemic corruption at higher levels. “In the last five years, Vasai-Virar has seen a dramatic increase in counterfeit constructions. This environment ultimately led to the arrest of former VVCMC Chief Anilkumar Pawar in a money laundering case by the Enforcement Directorate, along with YS Reddy, the then Deputy Director of Town Planning, who instead of protecting the city, contributed to its demise.”
