A Navi Mumbai developer influenced the government authorities to slap a notice on him to rake in crores by holding residents to ransom.
A Navi Mumbai developer influenced the government authorities to slap a notice on him to rake in crores by holding residents to ransom.
Bhupendra Shah, president of Navi Mumbai Builders' Association, developed Bhumiraj Hermitage, a 29-storey tower on Palm Beach Road.
He allegedly worked in tandem with MSEDC officials to get a notice issued to him that action would be taken against him if residents park their cars under MSEDC’s high-tension cables passing over a portion of the compound.
“The builder forced all residents to either park their vehicles outside the building or pay as much as Rs10 lakh for a parking slot,” said a resident of Bhumiraj Hermitage.
“It was the builder's trick to make a quick buck by converting open areas into more than 20 parking lots and selling them before handing over the society to the residents."
He added that the builder not only built barricades overnight but also deployed musclemen to ensure that the residents do not access the open space that they had been using freely for months.
The open space under the high-tension wire is mired in controversy, with an inquiry underway to find out how the officials handed over the public land to the private developer. Bhumiraj Hermitage is among the 21 high-rises along Palm Beach Road that are under the scanner for irregularities and bending of rules.
While MSEDC officials were prompt to issue a notice to the developer for reported misuse of space by residents of Bhumiraj Hermitage, the same developer who is also in possession of the adjacent plot where he is developing a commercial project, continues to use the space without any hassle from the authorities.
“It’s anybody's guess why the notice was issued only for our building,” said another resident, who refused to pay the exorbitant amount for a parking slot.
The builder is not only selling parking space for cars, but also for bikes and bicycles.
“The going rate for a bike is Rs40,000 and for parking a cycle, he is asking Rs4,000,” said the resident, adding that no receipt is issued.
“I will be held responsible in case of any mishap," said Shah, adding that some residents bought the parking slots from him, while others chose to park their cars outside the building. He said though the process of handing over the society is underway, MSEDC’s timing was purely coincidental.
Shah stays in a penthouse on the 29th floor of the same building.
MSEDC officials refused to comment on the issue.
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