KALYAN: The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) abruptly cancelled the demolition of Samarth Complex, one of 65 illegal buildings built with fake RERA certificates, after officials were summoned by the state urban development department. The final decision now lies with this department.
On Tuesday, prior to the planned demolition at 11 AM, residents of Samarth Complex staged a dramatic protest, threatening to self-immolate with bottles of petrol if KDMC proceeded. They claimed the state government had assured them in February that there would be no demolitions.
Since 2020, 65 illegal buildings, many on government land, have been constructed in the Dombivli and Kalyan areas using forged documents. These projects were misrepresented on the MahaRERA portal, misleading many buyers into thinking they were legitimate. Most purchasers, consisting of middle-class families, took loans for 1BHK and 2BHK flats priced between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 40 lakh.
An SIT probe was initiated after architect Sandeep Patil filed a petition in Bombay High Court in 2022. This led to the arrest of at least 15 individuals, including builders and those who created the fake documents. Although KDMC demolished some vacant structures, actions against occupied buildings were halted to prevent families from becoming homeless.
In 2024, residents of another illegal building filed a petition claiming they had been deceived. However, on November 19, 2024, the Bombay High Court ruled against them, declaring the buildings illegal and ordering their demolition.
With protests escalating, BJP MLA Ravindra Chavan intervened, and by February, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured support for genuine homebuyers, stating, “If necessary, the government will approach the Supreme Court to protect flat buyers.” Yet, residents argue that no substantial actions have followed this assurance.
Last week, KDMC issued a demolition notice for Samarth Complex, scheduling action for Tuesday.
Dhanashree Kamble, a resident, expressed frustration: “We are low-income individuals who took out bank loans for these homes. MahaRERA labeled these projects as legal—this isn’t our fault. The government promised no one would be rendered homeless, so why are they demolishing now?” Holding a petrol-filled bottle, she added, “If KDMC comes to demolish, we will set ourselves on fire.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) Kalyan district chief Dipesh Mhatre also participated in the protest.
