‘Landlords must furnish papers at police stations’

Fearing that anti-social elements and terrorists may seek refuge in rented homes in the city, the Mumbai police has issued new instructions directing that rental agreements should not be ambiguous. To ensure this, the department has ordered that landlords, renters and even middlemen should furnish their documents to the local police station.

The order issued by Sangramsingh Nishandar, two days before he was transferred from the post of DCP (Operations) is effective from June 14 and will be valid for a period for 60 days i.e. till August 12.

The order states such a move is being brought into place suspecting that terrorists and anti social elements may seek hideouts in the residential areas of the city. This, officials say, could lead to breach of peace and disturbance of the public tranquillity and a possible danger to human life, health and safety and injury to public property.

To tackle this, the department has issued the order under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The order states, “Some checks should be put in place on landlords/tenants so that terrorists or anti-social elements in the guise of tenants don’t cause explosions, riots, shootouts and affrays.”

The order is applicable to not just landlords or owners but also renters and middlemen. While landlords have been asked to submit the details of the tenants to the local police stations, those seeking to rent the house have also been asked to do the same. “All persons who intend to take accommodation on rent shall inform in writing to the senior police inspector of the local police station,” it states. Middlemen and brokers or house agents have also been asked to give the local police station details of the owners and the rentals to the police station. The order specially mentions foreigners looking to get an accommodation in the city. “If the person to whom the accommodation is Let/sublet/rented out is a foreigner, the owner and the foreigner, shall furnish his name, nationality and passport details including place and date of issue and validity and visa details to the police station,” it states. An officer added that a foreigner would also have to mention the reason for his state in the city.

Sources said that the order has been sent to all ward officers.