Cops seek civic body’s help

A day after Hindustan Times reported on the irregularities at the Kamdhenu shopping complex — a part of the Patliputra housing society home to about 50 bureaucrats and senior police officials — the Versova police initiated action in a case purportedly reported by the BMC a year ago.

A day after Hindustan Times reported on the irregularities at the Kamdhenu shopping complex — a part of the Patliputra housing society home to about 50 bureaucrats and senior police officials — the Versova police initiated action in a case purportedly reported by the BMC a year ago.

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Former chief secretary and Upa-Lokayukta Johnny Joseph, home secretary Umeshchandra Sarangi, MMRDA chief Rahul Asthana, municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar and senior police official Satyapal Singh who are veterans on civic and police laws are members.

“I have sent a junior police official to the BMC to check the papers of the society and the defaulting complex. We will be processing the first information report (FIR) on the basis of the complaint. But the BMC officials need to come with us on the spot and show us the irregularities,” Sharad Borase, senior police inspector of Versova Police station who is handling the case said on Saturday.

However, the owner of Kamdhenu Mall, Ranchhod Patel claimed that there is nothing illegal about his shop. “ We have proper papers to support our stand.

The mall has nothing illegal in it. We are paying an annual lease,”he said.

The society, which houses two thirteen storied towers occupying 5667 square meter plot in prime area of Lokhandwala complex, Andheri was allotted to Patliputra members in 1999 under government rules that 15% of the land could be used for commercial purposes, to make the project viable.

In July 2010, Kamdhenu shopping complex, a part of the Patliputra society that is on a 99-year lease with the Mumbai suburban collector had been slapped with a notice under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act (MRTP) for changing the use of space, using free FSI of the basement without the permission of the BMC.