Complaint filed against Mhada CEO

A complaint has been filed against the chief executive officer (CEO) and vice-president (VP) of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada), S.S. Zende, with the Lokayukta accusing

Mr Zende of misusing his chair and allotting an apartment in posh Versova to a person who had allegedly produced fake documents. The complainant, Prithvi Mhaske, has alleged that the real beneficiary — who was in the waiting list of the lottery to win the apartment — was deprived of the same due to Mhada favouring an individual who produced fake documents.

The high-income group (HIG) apartment was allotted to Shahjahan Majid Abdul Hawaldwar via a lottery held by Mhada in 2010. However, Ved Gupta, an income tax officer who was on the waiting list, claimed that he had found that Mr Hawaldar already has two apartments in his name in Mumbai. As per rules, a person who already owns an apartment in Mumbai is not eligible to participate in a Mhada lottery.

Following this, Mr Mhaske, an activist, filed a complaint with the Lokayukta alleging that despite him giving repeated reminders to Mhada officials, including Mr Zende, that Mr Gupta should rightfully be given the apartment, the housing authority failed to act.

Mhada sources said that the housing authority has already sent a notice to Mr Hawaldwar directing him to vacate the flat, but he is yet to give up possession.

When contacted, Mr Zende said, “There are many such cases with me and I do not know about this particular matter. I will have to check it to comment on it.”

Mr Hawaldwar said, “This is a conspiracy against me and, after taking legal opinion, I will challenge the notice sent by Mhada.”