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Shiv Sena leader accused of swindling ₹70 lakh from Airoli society funds
Members alleged that between April and July 2021, transactions worth ₹70 lakh were carried out between the former committee and the developer without any approval from the committee. In the complaint to the registrar, one of the complaints is about resolutions getting passed without the required quorum
NAVI MUMBAI: Vijay Chougule, a leader belonging to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, is facing serious allegations of aiding in the misappropriation of society funds and conducting fraudulent transactions to the tune of over ₹70 lakh. The accusation has been made by over 55 members of Newa Garden CHS Ltd, Sector 20 A, Airoli, via a written complaint made to the joint registrar of CIDCO. The politician was the first elected chairperson of the 23-storeyed posh housing society, comprising 200-odd flats, in 2019.
Disagreements over financial decisions taken during Chougule’s tenure have cropped up from 2021. Opposing members of the society are demanding a re-audit of the society’s accounts and even seeking an inquiry into the misappropriation of funds under Section 83 of the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960. (HT has a copy of the application made to the registrar.)
“We submitted the application regarding the mismanagement of society funds and the alleged fraud of ₹70,85,888 last month,” said Sakha Gabhane, a member who was one of the 55 complainants. “We are awaiting the order.”
Members alleged that between April and July 2021, transactions worth ₹70 lakh were carried out between the former committee and the developer without any approval from the committee. In the complaint to the registrar, one of the complaints is about resolutions getting passed without the required quorum.
Subsequently, on August 28, the registrar dissolved the committee on the grounds of lack of quorum, and the day-to- day working of the society was handed over to an administrator on September 4. “The committee was dissolved because financial decisions were being taken without a quorum,” said another society member Sharmila Gupta. “But the concerns about financial misappropriation going on from 2019 need to be investigated.”
The former chairman, along with the former secretary, is accused of being hand in glove with the developer. “Since this is a pre-RERA building, as per Section 6A of the Maharashtra Ownership of Flats Act, until the conveyance of the society, the builder is responsible for paying all municipal taxes and water charges,” said Gabhane. “Prior to the formation of the society in 2019, this aspect was duly followed. However, two financial transactions of over ₹70 lakh done with the developer in 2021 have raised serious doubts amongst the members.”
The developer, meanwhile, sent a letter to the society, pointing out that payment of property tax to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) had been pending from 2011, and the amount had been adjusted from the ₹70 lakh. Society members, however, said that his levying them with taxes with retrospective effect even while failing to get conveyance done to the society was a “blatant violation”. They alleged that the managing committee, which should have got the deemed conveyance within four months, had delayed the matter only to facilitate the builder.
The politician denied the allegations and stated that he would take legal action against the members. “Not a single penny has been misappropriated or unaccounted for,” he said. “In fact, even I am waiting for the re-audit, as that will clarify the whole issue. The building to date does not have an occupancy certificate from NMMC, as the area falls in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), and a court case is going on to ascertain the boundary. In spite of this, the building is occupied, which in itself is questionable.”
Chougule said he had filed a civil suit for defamation against each of the signatories. “I am also in the midst of filing a criminal case,” he said. “As for the matter concerning the wrongful dissolution of the committee citing lack of quorum by the registrar, that too is under appeal at Mantralaya. This is a ploy to malign my reputation and I will not take it lying down.”
Attempts to contact the developer failed to elicit a response.
