MHADA lottery: AIMIM MLA Imtiaz Jaleel files applications under two quotas

The list of applications that have been accepted was put up by MHADA recently for the lottery which is to be held on Sunday. The list has thrown light on the need for affordable houses, which are much in demand.

On the other hand, the list shows sheer exploitation of power as a sitting AIMIM MLA, Imtiaz Jaleel has filed two applications, one on the journalist quota while the other in the MP/MLA quota.

Jaleel claims that he is a former journalist but that he will withdraw the journalist quota application. MHADA is now verifying whether a journalist who has applied in the MP/MLA quota can also apply in the journalist quota, or not.

Jaleel is a first time MLA from Aurangabad, and has also been a journalist for two decades. When asked about two applications on his name, Jaleel said, "I am an ex journalist, the application in the journalist quota is by a mistake and I am withdrawing it. The only one application that I am retaining is that in the MP/MLA quota." Jaleel has applied for a house in the Higher Income Group (HIG) category in Lower Parel. The house is priced at Rs 99 lakh.

Meanwhile, this has raised several questions for MHADA to answer. Deepender Singh Khuswaha, the chief officer of MHADA's Mumbai Board, said, "We are verifying the matter, there are cases where people have applied in two reservations, for example, a central or state government employee has used the employee quota and also the physically handicap. However, if this is also allowed in journalist and MP/MLA quota we will check it and act accordingly. Even if one applies in several reservations and multiple applications are filed, the beneficiary will get only a single benefit."

Besides Jaleel, the list of MP and MLAs who have applied for the lottery also includes Hemant Godse, who has applied only in the MP/MLA quota.

The response for the houses has elated MHADA authorities, for example, a single one room kitchen (duplex) located at Matunga under the Middle Income Group (MIG) has received over 1,500 applications. In a certain scheme in Ghatkopar where two flats are up for grabs, more than 2,500 applications have been received. MHADA received over 1.97 lakh applications of which above 1.64 applicants paid the Earnest Money Deposit to participate. The Rs 5.13 crore home located at the Dhavalgiri building received 46 applications, The Rs 4.99 crore home received 43 applications, while the Rs 5.80 crore home received, 47 applications. These three are the most expensive home that MHADA had ever offered in the lottery.

Even the number of applications rejected is six, of which while most were for applying in different income categories, one was because of mismatch in bank details.

MHADA will be holding the lottery for 1384 homes at its head office located in Kalanagar, Bandra east on December 16.