Bombay High Court directs local police to look into matter of HDIL denying possession to 100-odd homebuyers, who booked flats in the builder’s Kurla (W) housing project
Offering respite for the 100-odd aggrieved homebuyers who are being denied possession of their dream homes from a builder, the Bombay High Court yesterday issued a directive asking the local police station to initiate action in the matter. The court also ordered the cops to report back to them in a week.
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A homebuyer protesting against HDIL’s demand for extra payment during a protest held recently. File pic
The court was hearing a writ petition filed by Aejaz Saiyed, a homebuyer who invested his life’s savings to purchase a flat in HDIL’s Premier Residences Kurla (W) project. His plea stated that the developer was not giving him possession of the flat even though he has made all payments. Saiyed, in his petition, has also asked for a government body to be set up in such matters.
With the court ordering the police to take cognisance, there is some hope knocking on the doors of the homebuyers. mid-day had reported on the controversy and the reports published formed a huge part of the support for the petitioner in the court.
HDIL first promised possession in 2012, but later extended it to December 2013. But, at the time of possession, it started demanding an extra amount because, claimed HDIL, all buyers have been given larger areas than what they paid for, in the form of flowerbeds and balcony spaces.
Following the demand, the homebuyers staged a protest outside HDIL’s office in Bandra. With the builder paying no heed to their protests, about 20 homebuyers filed cases in the city civil court against the builder. “I filed a writ petition so that we could get some justice. Approaching the court was the only way to seek justice.
Now with the court asking the police to look into the matter, it is expected that there would be stricter sections under which the police will file a case against the builder. We also used the articles published in mid-day, which highlighted the plight of the homebuyers, to show the court how the builder was fooling us,” said Saiyed. In spite of repeated attempts, HDIL was unavailable for comment.
>> Court asks police to report back to them within a week
>> Order comes as a big relief for the homebuyers who have been awaiting possession of their flats for a long time
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