Opposition demands probe against Hiranandani Construction arm for duty evasion

The Maharashtra Government should conduct an inquiry against Roma Builders, a subsidiary of Hiranandani Group, for stamp duty evasion of about Rs 140 crore, said Mr Eknath Khadse, Leader of Opposition, in the Legislative Assembly on Friday. Mr Khadse said that Roma Builders has acquired over 3 lakh sq. m in Thane. 

The land value in 2008 was computed at Rs 271 crore but by 2010, when the land deal actually happened, it was reduced to Rs 178 crore. The State Government officials have undervalued it using loop holes in the ready reckoner rate, he said.

He pointed out that Hiranandani has been asked by the Supreme Court to provide tenements to 3,500 from the low-income group in Powai. Since Hiranandani complex in Powai has only six acres of open land, the land in Thane should be used for building the low-income tenements, Mr Khadse said.

“In a number of instances across the State, it has been found that there is a huge stamp duty evasion by private parties and the State Government officials are in cahoots with them,” he said. The State has old land and revenue records based on the outdated British system. This system has led to a number of litigations. Latest land records using advance satellite imaging technology is the need of the hour, he said.

1.13L sqmt Powai land may go for affordable housing - Hiranandani

According to a report submitted in the Bombay high court by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), nearly 1.13 lakh square metre buildable area is likely to be made available for low-cost housing in Powai Area Development Scheme (PADS), being developed by Hiranandani Developers at Powai.

The MMRDA’s report submitted on Thursday stated that about 1,13,357 square metre of total buildable area is still available in the area of the scheme designed for affordable housing with a planned development.

The planning authority submitted the report in pursuant to an earlier high court order, datedFebruary 22, that also restrained the Hiranandani developer from any further development of the Powai township before constructing the affordable houses, as contemplated under the tripartite agreement between the developer, the state government and the MMRDA.

Further, MMRDA’s advocate Kiran Bagalia informed the high court that, “While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation — the planning authority for PADS — has sanctioned all the plans, it has informed MMRDA that two sectors included in the lay-out plan of the scheme do not exist.”

Adding that the report was not complete as inadequate information was available about the two sectors, Bagalia sought more time to submit the final report.

Earlier, the division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice Roshan Dalvi retrained any further construction by the developer while hearing PILs filed by noted social activist Medha Patkar and city residents, Kamlakar Satve and Rajendra Thackar. The newly-constructed tenements were to be handed over to the Maharashtra government at the rate of Rs135 per square feet.

Also, the court had directed the MMRDA to prepare a detailed statement of the total construction put up in the scheme area, balance open land available, number and area of tenements constructed and a list of their purchasers.