Use RTI Act to find out irregularities in construction project and then blackmail and extort money from builders and individuals
Use RTI Act to find out irregularities in construction project and then blackmail and extort money from builders and individualsThought the Right to Information (RTI) Act was an effective deterrent to all ills in society? Delude yourself not. For a handful of real estate agents have effectively unearthed the dark side of this Act to put builders in the city in a spot of bother.
Assaulted: Real estate agent Arvind Kaushal was allegedly attacked by
a builder after he filed an RTI asking about a construction in KharadiThese shrewd agents apply the RTI Act to ferret out any irregularities in construction projectsu00a0 -- which the builder or individual may have inadvertently or wittingly overlooked -- and then use the information to blackmail the unsuspecting targets.
These agents extort anywhere between a few thousands to lakh of rupees as 'settlement money', all this to keep the implicative information under wraps. This is what Dinkar Navnathe (name changed), a 35-year-old, found out much to his exasperation.
He had started a new construction at his place in Navi Peth, a few months ago. A local real estate agent sought information regarding his project to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) under the RTI Act.
"I had a relative in PMC, who informed me that someone had asked for information regarding my construction project. When I gathered information about the person, it was revealed that he was a real estate agent. I asked him why was he interested in this piece of information to which he replied that it was his method," Dinkar said.
Sarang Yadwadkar, an architect and also a RTI activist, said, "Every weapon has two edges and RTI is also such a weapon. Like any other law, RTI will also have to mature and its users have to apply it judiciously. Going by human nature, RTI's misuse is inevitable, but it should be definitely stopped," Yadwadkar said.
Vice-President of CREDAI, Pune Chapter, Rohit Gera said: "There's a difference between irregular and illegal constructions. Illegal constructions happen when builders construct structures the plans of which are not approved by the civic body. On the other hand, irregularities in constructions occur when a builder has the permission to go ahead, but does not adhere to norms set by the civic body. In such cases, the project can be regularised by paying penalties to the civic body, instead of succumbing to pressure tactics by agents out to make a fast buck.
Builder bookedA real estate agent Arvind Kaushal (40), was allegedly attacked by a builder. The builder in this case Umesh Goel has been booked by the Yerawada police. The police have also arrested a suspect whom the complainant had mentioned. The police have also slapped attempt to murder charges against the suspect.
Kaushal had reportedly filed an RTI application to glean information about a construction project in Kharadi.u00a0
Kaushal stated in his police complaint that he was attacked at the behest of Ganesh Chonde, who is allegedly linked to Goel-Raisoni associates, involved in the construction work at Ganga Constella project in Kharadi.
The Pune Municipal Corporation had stopped work at the construction site after they conducted an inspection and observed some irregularities in the project, following Kaushal's RTI query.u00a0
Police Sub-Inspector Suresh Gholap of the Yerawada police station said: "Investigations revealed that Chonde had made calls to Kaushal on Friday evening just before the attack. He was arrested late on Saturday night."
Members of the Ganga Constella society in a press release have condemned the attack on Kaushal and listed out their grievances against the builder.
It reads: "The members of Ganga Constella Co-operative Housing Society strongly condemns the attack on society member Arvind Kaushal. We are also facing problems such as illegal parking, absence of amphitheatre, volley ball court, and park for senior citizens which was promised but not provided, irregular water supply and commercial buildings being constructed in the green zone."
