Mumbai: Allegations have emerged regarding the extensive illegal commercial use of the Kandivali Industrial Estate in Kandivali West, contrary to its designated purpose, resulting in significant losses in stamp duty revenue.
The Stamp Collector is investigating these claims and has requested transaction records from the relevant cooperative society, alongside an inquiry for further details from the Suburban District Collector's Office. It has been observed that the misuse of the estate has led to substantial government revenue losses.
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Although the state government sought to reclaim the land, the Kandivali Cooperative Industrial Estate contested this in the High Court, which granted an interim stay. Initially, 16 plots were allocated for public use while 150 were designated for industrial purposes, some offered at merely Rs. 66 per square metre.
Reji Abraham of the United Association for Social, Educational and Public Welfare Trust has highlighted that these plots are being misappropriated for various businesses like bars, restaurants, gyms, and more, in addition to the fraud involved in mortgaging them for bank loans.
The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation oversees the management, but the cooperative society has apparently permitted commercial activities that exceed industrial use.
As a result, Stamp Collector Jairam Pawar has sent a letter to the society requesting comprehensive documentation on the ownership and transactions of the affected plots. Illegal transfers, constructions, unauthorised agreements, and failure to pay stamp duties have compounded government losses.
