Notices to Hiranandani, Johny Joseph, others in Powai case

MUMBAI: The sessions court today issued notices to builder Niranjan Hiranandani, former Maharashtra Chief Secretary Johny Joseph, and a few others with regard to case related to irregularities in a housing project worth Rs 45,000 crore in suburban Powai.

"The applicant is directed to serve notices to the respondents," ordered judge A N Patil, in response to activist Rajesh Kamble's petition that a case of cheating and criminal breach of trust be filed against Hiranandani Developers, Niranjan Hiranandani, three family members of his, Johny Joseph, and former additional secretary T C Benjamin.

State Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has already filed an FIR against Hiranandani and additional secretary T C Benjamin in this case.

"We have prayed that a criminal case be initiated against the respondents, independent of the FIR filed by ACB," said Kamble's lawyer, advocate Ashish Giri.

According to Kamble's complaint, Hiranandanis were supposed to construct tenements for weaker sections of society on government land under the Powai Housing Development Scheme, but they cheated the state by constructing spacious flats by amalgamating two/more smaller tenements, and selling them at a premium to rich buyers.