Major Land Scam Uncovered in Nashik: Over 150 Booked for EWS Housing Fraud
In a significant crackdown on real estate malpractice, the Sarkarwada police station in Nashik has registered a cheating case against more than 150 landowners and developers. The accused are alleged to have systematically evaded the mandatory 20% reservation for economically weaker section (EWS) housing in residential projects exceeding 4,000 square meters.
FIR Filed Based on District-Level Probe
The case was officially registered on March 7, 2024, following a complaint filed by a land records department officer. This complaint was based on the findings of an inquiry committee chaired by the additional district collector. The probe was initiated to verify compliance with state housing policies from 2013 and 2017, which mandate that 20% of land in projects above 4,000sqm must be reserved for EWS housing.
Within the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) limits, this reserved portion is specifically required to be allotted through the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). The First Information Report (FIR) invokes serious sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section 318(4) for cheating
- Section 335 for creating false documents
- Section 336 for forgery
Forgery Scheme to Bypass Reservation Rules
The investigation was triggered after MHADA officials raised concerns about potential violations. The enquiry committee discovered that at least 49 landowners, developers, and unidentified collaborators had allegedly engaged in document forgery. Their scheme involved artificially splitting large land parcels into smaller plots to keep each below the 4,000sqm threshold, thereby illegally avoiding the EWS reservation requirement.
Senior inspector Suresh Avhad of Sarkarwada police station revealed that the revenue department and NMC submitted a list of over 150 individuals implicated in the scam. This list includes more than 100 landowners. "There are over 100 such projects across the city where these violations have occurred," Avhad stated. "A thorough investigation will determine the specific roles of landowners and developers in the cheating and forgery. Arrests will be made if required."
Widespread Impact and Ongoing Investigation
The scale of the alleged fraud suggests a coordinated effort to undermine affordable housing provisions in Nashik. By bypassing the EWS reservation, the accused potentially deprived hundreds of economically disadvantaged families of housing opportunities mandated by state policy.
The police investigation is now focused on examining documents from all implicated projects, identifying the full network of collaborators, and determining the extent of financial losses and social impact. Authorities emphasize that this case highlights the need for stricter monitoring of real estate compliance with social welfare housing regulations.
