Cops failed to book errant developers, say buyers

Despite the recent directive of the state police stating that a first information report (FIR) should be registered against builders who delay handing over possession of flats, the Kashimira police station in Mira Road and Dindoshi police station in Goregaon have failed to do so after around 20 buyers approached them to file a case against developer DB Realty for not delivering their flats on time.

Prabhat Kumar, special inspector general of police had, in July, issued a circular that a complaint should be registered against builders who fail to hand over possession to buyers on time or deliver flats without obtaining an occupation certificate (OC).

Aggrieved homebuyers who had opted for the DB Ozone project had initially approached the Dindoshi police station as the location of the agreement signed between the buyer and the developer fell under its jurisdiction.

Navin Mishra, a homebuyer, said, “The police is not ready to file an FIR despite the directions of a state police circular and is instead playing ping-pong with us. The Dindoshi police officers did not file any FIR and directed us to the Kashimira police station, citing that it was where the project is located. Later, a group of buyers approached the Kashimira police station, which took our statements on the issue but did not file any FIR. We hope that after looking into our statements the police will file an FIR.”

Vilas Sanap, police inspector, Kashimira police station, said, “We have not filed an FIR against the developer as we are taking a legal opinion on whether or not the agreement signed between the developer and buyer falls in the jurisdiction of Dindoshi police station. However, we have recorded the statement of eight buyers and the process is ongoing as of now. We have also received 20 written complaints and are in the process of taking a decision on filing an FIR.”

Interestingly, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had come down heavily on Thane police on Twitter in July after a motorist trapped in a traffic jam had tweeted his complaint with the Thane police, to which the latter replied saying that the matter fell under the jurisdiction of the Thane Rural police. Mr Fadnavis had replied, “Your reply should be ‘It is under Thane Rural Police jurisdiction and we will inform them.’” Buyers beware Buyers should take a few precautions before purchasing a house such as taking a loan from a reputed bank, getting papers checked by advocate and checking the track record of the developer, said advocate Vinod Sampat.