DB realty using underworld links to redevelop slum?

Residents of Worli slum say Balwa's men have been threatening them through goons to get mandatory 70 per cent consent

DB realty using underworld links to redevelop slum?

Residents of Worli slum say Balwa's men have been threateningu00a0them through goons to get mandatory 70 per cent consent

DAYS after being arrested for his alleged involvement in the 2G spectrum scam, DB Realty's Managing Director Shahid Balwa finds himself in the centre of another storm.

The residents say DB Realty has forged their signatures and that they have already agreed to a redevelopment proposal by Lokhandwala Infrastructure

Residents of a slum at Dr E Moses Road, Worli, have written to Deputy Commissioner Suhas Warke, senior inspectors of the Worli police station and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) complaining that Balwa is using the underworld to try and forcibly redevelop the area under the SRA scheme.

According to the letter (copy with MiD DAY), Balwa's construction company, DB Realty, submitted a proposal to the SRA claiming that it has the mandatory 70 per cent consent and requesting the go-ahead for redevelopment. Residents, however, say the firm forged their signatures.

They also said that they have already given the consent for redevelopment to Lokhandwala Infrastructure.

The SRA rejected DB Realty's proposal in December. Residents say that Balwa is now using money and his alleged underworld connections to force the residents to give their consent.

Balwa also allegedly tried to disrupt a public meeting in the area organised by Lokhandwala builders on January 20.
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When local corporator Parashuram Desai began his speech at the meeting, Balwa's goons began shouting slogans against Lokhandwala and the BMC.

They removed the generator cable, plunging the area into darkness. The disturbance eventually led to the meeting being cancelled.

"Now we are getting threats from the underworld. We have made several complaints to the police, but haven't got a response," said Datta Navghane, chairman of one of the four co-operative housing societies in the area.

"I have no idea about any complaints against Balwa," said Rajnish Seth, joint commissioner of police (law and Order).

The Other Side
Salim Balwa, one of the directors of DB Realty, said, "They are defaming us. 750 people have given us their consent for redevelopment and we have a video recording to prove this. Residents of the area approached us on seeing our previous redevelopment work. We haven't threatened anybody."