25 January,2012 08:22 AM IST | | Akela
With the long arm of the law closing in on it with its vice-like grip, officials at the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) have been spurred on to take action against errant builders working under its banner.
After the Bombay High Court issued a directive for an FIR to be lodged against the apex body in relation to the violation of construction norms in a tower in Kharghar, CIDCO officials have registered an FIR againstu00a0 Abhishek Builders and Developers.
Tall storey: CIDCO officials have registered an FIR against the builders
of the 21-storey Green Heritage tower for violating norms and constructing
more floors than the specified number. File pic
DCP (Crime) of Navi Mumbai Dattatray Shinde was also booked in the case ('Navi Mumbai DCP booked for cheating, forgery', December 7, 2012).
The construction in question is the 21-storey Green Heritage tower in Sector 20 of Kharghar.
On January 19, CIDCO's Chief Controller of Unauthorised Construction (CUC) Anil Patil registered an FIR against the firm -- for violations of Sections 43, 52 and 53 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act.
"I have registered an FIR against Abhishek Builders and Developers in Kharghar police station, for flouting construction norms," confirmed Patil.
The violations first came to light when the first complainant in the caseu00a0-- an estate agent called Pramod Mittalu00a0-- registered an FIR against Abhishek Builders, alleging that the firm had obtained permission from CIDCO for constructing 97 flats, 20 shops and two offices in the tower, but had actually constructed 140 flats, 38 shops and four offices.
The builder had constructed a four-storey building where the security office building should have been. The FIR also named 36 officials from CIDCO, MSEB as well as DCP Shinde for inaction.
In response to the FIR, CIDCO has promptly lodged a fresh FIR against Abhishek Builders.
The other side
"I am aware that an FIR was registered by CIDCO against our firm. The police has not summoned us for our statement. Perhaps they are recording statements of residents. This is a civil matter and will go to court," said Dinesh Patel, one of the partners of the firm. The other partneru00a0-- Karman Patelu00a0-- did not respond to calls.
