Month after Parmar suicide, another Thane builder sends SOS to CM Devendra Fadnavis

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The Indian Express had reported earlier that Thane, a real estate hot spot, was experiencing the presence of an alleged cartel of elected municipal corporators and officials known among builders and officials as the ‘Golden Gang’. The ‘gang’ allegedly uses official forums, including the Standing Committee and general body meetings of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), to stall real estate projects raising allegations regarding irregularities and then demand payoffs.
R G Pataskar, partner, Shree Yogeshwar Developers, has alleged in his letter that Pawar had used various “dubious” means and was allegedly exerting “immense pressure” on the Thane town planning authorities to delay issuance of the occupation certificate to a highrise building project undertaken out by them on a 1.75 lakh square feet land near Ghodbunder.

Pataskar has also claimed that Pawar’s associates had been pressurising him to pay bribes, a charge vehemently denied by Pawar when contacted for comments. He said, “I have no personal interest in the builder’s project. But I had raised the issue after receiving a complaint that one of the owners of the plots had been deceived by the builders. It is baseless to allege that I or my associates have demanded payoffs from him.”

Pataskar pointed out that none of the contentions being raised by Pawar had been accepted by courts. “We have been forced to fight as many as 36 cases in various courts due to frivolous litigations,” Pataskar said. The contention finds mention in his letter to Fadnavis.

Besides various court orders, the 74-year-old builder who is also a practising architect, has attached official documents to his correspondence, including a court affidavit by a senior Thane town planning officer where he has admitted that the construction work had been according to sanctioned plans.
Pawar confirmed that he did not represent the municipal ward where the project was being undertaken, but asked: “As an elected representative, don’t I reserve the right to raise issues in public interest?”

While Fadnavis was unavailable for comments, Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal said, “I am yet to go through the contents of the letter. These would be verified and appropriate action taken under law.”

Sanjay Ghadigaonkar, Congress group leader in the TMC, meanwhile, said he was unaware of any such complaint. “We (the party) would first look into the merits of the complaint. Based on this, the party would further look into the matter.” he said.

Pataskar has demanded a probe into the matter. “Ideally, the projects should have been completed in two-and-a-half years. But despite abiding by all norms and building according to approved plans, the project has been stalled for eight years, throwing viability numbers off gear,” said Pataskar’s son Amol, also a partner in the firm.

“I feel cornered from all sides. I’m under tremendous mental strain,” Pataskar has said in his letter. He has cited the extreme step Parmar had taken to justify his demand. Pawar, meanwhile, argued that the Parmar episode was being used to “muzzle genuine complaints” from corporators.

sandeep.ashar@expressindia.com