Kalyan-Dombivli Illegal Construction Scam: HC Orders Demolition of 65 Buildings

📅 February 20, 2025

In a landmark decision, the Bombay High Court has ordered the demolition of 65 illegally constructed buildings in Dombivli, dealing a severe blow to fraudulent real estate practices. The Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) is set to execute the demolition this week, impacting approximately 6,500 homebuyers who were unaware of the scam.

Massive Real Estate Scam Unveiled

These buildings were declared illegal after it was discovered that developers had used fake building plans and forged RERA certificates to gain approvals. Many unsuspecting buyers had purchased homes in these structures after verifying supposedly legitimate documents, including building plan authorizations and RERA certifications. Some homebuyers had even secured housing loans from nationalized banks and availed benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme, adding another layer of complexity to the issue.

Exposing the Fraud

The scam came to light in 2022 when architect Sandeep Patil uncovered fraudulent activities related to building approvals. Upon realizing that developers were selling apartments in unauthorized buildings using counterfeit RERA certificates, Patil reported the matter to KDMC. However, after no immediate action was taken, he escalated the issue to the Bombay HC. Following a thorough investigation, KDMC determined that between 2019 and 2022, developers had forged essential documents to construct and sell these buildings illegally.

Legal Action and Arrests

In response to the revelations, KDMC filed two FIRs, leading to the arrest of 15 individuals, including developers and those involved in fabricating building documents and official KDMC stamps. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was subsequently formed by the Thane police to delve deeper into the fraudulent activities.