Maharashtra: Opposition alleges Rs 250 crore land scam in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday alleged that there was a Rs 250 crore TDR scam in the Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar redevelopment scheme in suburban Ghatkopar, and state minister Nitin Raut was involved in it.

Demanding a CID probe, Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse (BJP) and Subhash Desai (Shiv Sena) said there was a CD of the conversation between the society members and the personal assistant of the minister about the TDR deal.

Through Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) sale, extra Floor Space Index can be transferred for a construction where available FSI has been consumed.

Khadse said that Raut, who was minister of state for housing in the previous government, was behind the scam and he appointed his private assistant P B Jakikore as the administrator for the housing society. This appointment was illegal and without permission from Jarikote's parent department, he said.

Replying to allegations, current Minister of State for Housing, Sachin Ahir, said the government had nothing to do with the TDR sale, and he was unaware if the housing society -- Shantisagar Society -- had struck any deal. He added that his department had stayed the project, though 10 buildings had already been completed and 600 tenements allotted to the eligible residents.

Promising an inquiry, Ahir said the letter of intent given to the society had been revoked for the administrative reasons and also the developer had not been given the permission to sell flats to outsiders.

Originaly, Khadse had raised a question about quota for policemen in the redeveloped society.