Curation Team
MUMBAI: In the sprawling suburb of Vasai-Virar, a deadly housing scam is unfolding – one that exploits the desperation of homebuyers and the complicity of civic officials. Construction mafias, operating unchecked, are erecting unauthorised buildings using forged Commencement Certificates (CCs) and Occupation Certificates (OCs). These fraudulent structures are then sold to unsuspecting, budget-conscious buyers under the false assurance of legal approval – a dangerous fraud with fatal consequences.
Death trap
A senior officer from the Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) Police confirmed that the Ramabai Apartment – which tragically collapsed in Virar, claiming 17 lives was built by a bogus builder using fake CC and OC documents. “When a builder uses forged Commencement Certificates or Occupancy Certificates to construct and sell a building, they aren’t just committing fraud – they’re creating a death trap,” the officer, requesting anonymity, said.
Appeal of affordability
With Mumbai’s real estate prices climbing beyond the reach of middle-class families, the Vasai-Virar belt has become a magnet for aspiring homeowners seeking affordability. But in this affordability lies a trap. Desperate buyers are being lured into what appears to be a legitimate, low-cost housing option – only to later discover that they were sold an illegal, structurally unsafe building, often with no legal recourse.
Legal loopholes
Shockingly, even when law enforcement is aware of the fraud, they remain legally paralysed. “Despite knowing the builder is using fake CCs and OCs, we are unable to register an FIR. The complainant, in such cases, must be a civic official, not a private individual,” said the MBVV officer.
This legal loophole has enabled a free-for-all environment for corrupt developers. “It is the reason why rampant constructions are skyrocketing not only in Vasai-Virar but across many suburbs,” the officer added.
The Bombay High Court, too, has questioned the narrow targeting of only developers in these cases. In a 2022 hearing related to a forged CC in Nallasopara, Justice Bharati Dangre remarked, “The Investigating Officer shall then explain why no official from the Corporation is arraigned as an accused. It is obvious that it is the Planning Authority’s duty to supervise its area and monitor new constructions.”
Stonewalled by the system
Even proactive efforts by police officers have been met with bureaucratic indifference. The MBVV police reportedly wrote multiple letters to then Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) Commissioner Anil Kumar Pawar, requesting the deployment of Assistant Municipal Commissioners (AMCs) to monitor illegal constructions.
“But Pawar did not respond, despite several reminders,” said an officer. “His silence created a legal bottleneck, effectively shielding rogue developers.”
Failure to monitor
Police further allege that during Pawar’s tenure, several watch stations (chowkies) were constructed to keep an eye on illegal building activities. “What happened to those chowkies?” questioned an officer. “They exist only on paper, just like the fake OCs.”
Systemic corruption
Terence Hendriques, an RTI activist and social worker, voiced a sentiment shared by many: “Until and unless corrupt babus are booked and arrested, the construction mafias will not stop work in Vasai, Virar, and Nallasopara – all of which have become breeding grounds for illegal construction.”
Another social worker, Sudesh Choudhary, pointed to systemic corruption at the highest levels. “In the last five years, Vasai-Virar has witnessed a surge in bogus constructions. It’s the reason why former VVCMC Chief Anilkumar Pawar was arrested in a money laundering case by the Enforcement Directorate. YS Reddy, then Deputy Director of Town Planning, is another key accused who, instead of safeguarding the city, helped ruin it.”
