Restoring Lawful Urban Governance in Mumbai & MMR: A Call to Empower Maharashtra Police and Disband the Nexus

🛑 The Core Problem: A Multi-Layered Nexus of Exploitation

Despite significant efforts by the Government—such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, redevelopment incentives, and 50% premium waivers—the benefits often fail to reach the ground level, due to manipulation and obstruction by vested interests. The following patterns of nexus have been repeatedly flagged in reports, legal complaints, and civic grievances:

1. Builder–Landowner–Corporation Triad

A widespread and systemic pattern exists where builders, landowners, and certain officials in municipal corporations collude to manipulate permissions, delay occupancy clearances, and suppress legal objections. This results in unauthorized constructions, exploitation of buyers, and blocked redevelopment rights.

2. Underworld–Political–Real Estate Links

There have been credible reports of some developers maintaining indirect ties with anti-social groups, local gangs, and rogue political elements. These entities often target high-value lands—especially in CRZ, NGT, and postal zones—through forged documents, coercion, or dummy ownership structures. Notable crackdowns in Vasai-Virar and MBVP zones have revealed the magnitude of this problem.

3. FSI Misuse, MOFA Violations, and Unauthorized Floors

Extra floors are being constructed beyond sanctioned limits by misusing FSI relaxations, often violating the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act (MOFA). In some cases, even enforcement-linked individuals have been sold flats in these illegal portions—creating conflict-of-interest concerns and weakening the legal response.

4. Housing Society Committees Misusing MCS Act Powers

Many registered cooperative housing societies have devolved into small oppressive regimes, where committees misuse powers under the MCS Act to harass flat owners, collect unapproved charges, block redevelopment, or deny rightful ownership documentation. Citizens often feel trapped—with no practical recourse or legal literacy to challenge such overreach.

5. Fear, Confusion, and Legal Helplessness Among Citizens

There is an overwhelming lack of public awareness about their rights, complaint mechanisms, and legal pathways. Residents fear retaliation, are confused about jurisdiction (whether to approach the Police, Municipal Body, or RERA), and thus avoid confrontation—even when blatantly cheated.

✅ The Proposed Solution: Enable Maharashtra Police as a Central Force of Urban Accountability

The Maharashtra Police —particularly the Mumbai and MMR units—have shown proactive action in recent land and fraud-related busts. Public trust in the police is increasing, with many citizens now aware of how to file Non-Cognizable (NC) complaints, lodge digital FIRs, and approach specialized units. What is urgently needed now is a structured empowerment and insulation of police authority: Give the Police direct access to land, redevelopment, and society fraud records Establish anti-nexus task forces under Police–Judiciary–Urban Ministry supervision Ensure Police are not dependent on local politicians or civic officials to act Protect whistleblowers and RTI activists from harassment by vested interests Run a state-wide campaign informing people where to report real estate fraud

🛡️ The Path Ahead: Police + People = Real Justice

While the Government continues to roll out progressive reforms, these initiatives must be guarded from falling into the hands of corrupt intermediaries. True justice must not depend on backdoor access, intimidation, or favours—but on transparent, fearless, and accountable governance. Let the Maharashtra Police become the primary frontline in dismantling these entrenched nexuses, restoring public trust, and ensuring that citizens—especially homebuyers and flat owners—can live with dignity, confidence, and legal protection.