SIT Exposes Land Scam: 102 Forged Maps Used to Legalize Illegal Coastal Properties in Mumbai

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has uncovered a significant land scam involving the alteration of property records to convert Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and No Development Zone (NDZ) lands into developable plots along the Mumbai coastline. The scam, which has been investigated under a Bombay High Court order, reveals large-scale tampering of property maps and records, leading to both ecological damage and substantial government revenue loss.

The SIT investigation, which began in October 2024, was prompted by a complaint from Vaibhav Thakur, a farmer from Erangal in Malad. Thakur had raised concerns in 2021 when he found that government records had been tampered with to classify lands along the coast, previously protected by CRZ and NDZ regulations—as developable zones. These areas, considered ecologically sensitive, are usually restricted from construction or any form of urban development to protect the coastal ecosystem. Thakur had earlier filed a police report at the Goregaon police station about the illegal constructions on his ancestral land and the surrounding areas. Despite his complaints, local authorities, including the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) and Goregaon police, failed to take effective action.

This led to further investigation by the deputy superintendent of land records, Nitin Salunkhe, who filed an additional FIR (First Information Report) in 2021. Salunkhe’s inquiry revealed that property records were manipulated between 2012 and 2020 to regularize illegal constructions in these ecologically protected zones. These manipulations were found to involve altering property maps and adding fabricated details, such as non-existent buildings and incorrect boundaries, to make the lands appear eligible for development. The documents were then processed under the guise of Right to Information (RTI) requests, allowing the illegal constructions to gain approval.

The case gained momentum when it was discussed in the state assembly in 2022, following which the Maharashtra government set up an inquiry committee. The committee’s findings were presented in the High Court, which led to the formation of the SIT. The SIT, under the leadership of joint commissioner of police (crime) Lakhmi Gautam, was tasked with investigating the issue and verifying the authenticity of property maps and records. The investigation has so far led to the arrest of four individuals, including two retired government officers, a contractor, and a real estate agent.

The arrested individuals are accused of conspiring with government officials to alter the property records. These records involved 102 fraudulent property maps that were manipulated to show fabricated details, such as City Survey numbers that didn’t exist, altered boundaries, and false claims of constructions on properties that were previously untouched. The maps were part of 884 permanent enumeration maps, spanning the period from 1955 to 1984, housed in the deputy superintendent’s office. Investigators found that these 102 maps were forged to make the properties appear legal for development, even though they had been classified as CRZ and NDZ lands.

According to the SIT, the four arrested individuals—including contractor Narshim Puttawallu, retired officers Devdas Jadhav and Marade, and real estate agent Imam Shaikh—were responsible for manipulating these records in conjunction with officials from the BMC and the Land Records Department. Their actions have had severe consequences, including the approval of illegal constructions that have caused significant ecological damage to the coastal area. Moreover, this manipulation led to a massive loss of government revenue, as these developments were not subject to the required taxes and regulations.

The involvement of government staff from both the BMC and the Land Records Department is a major aspect of the investigation. A total of 18 officials from these departments have been summoned for questioning. However, the investigation was delayed due to the election process in Maharashtra, which slowed the pace of proceedings. Despite these setbacks, the SIT has managed to seize all 884 original maps and their digital copies from the Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre in Nagpur. These materials are now under examination to assess the extent of the fraud and verify the authenticity of the documents.

The Maharashtra government has already taken action by ordering the principal secretary of Urban Development and the Director of Land Records in Pune to address the issue and hold those responsible for manipulating public records accountable. As the investigation continues, efforts are underway to identify additional suspects involved in the fraud, and the authorities are focused on ensuring that all forged documents are invalidated to prevent further illegal construction in ecologically sensitive areas.

This land scam highlights the challenges that Mumbai, and many other urban centers in India, face in maintaining the integrity of their urban planning systems. It also brings attention to the critical importance of safeguarding environmentally sensitive areas from exploitation and ensuring that laws meant to protect the environment are enforced rigorously. This case serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities within government systems that can be exploited by unscrupulous individuals to bypass regulations meant to protect the environment and public resources.

The authorities are now working towards the comprehensive verification of all property records along the Mumbai coastline to prevent future tampering and to ensure that the city’s coastal areas remain protected for future generations. The outcome of this investigation is likely to have far-reaching implications for urban planning and property development in Mumbai, setting a precedent for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations.