Mira-Bhayandar civic body accused of charging police Rs 20 crore for commissionerate land

The Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation has been accused of taking Rs 20 crore 6 lakh 92 thousand 720 from the state government's police department while handing over land for the Mira-Bhayandar-Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate. The land had been received free by the corporation under a reservation, through TDR (transferable development rights). The matter has raised questions about the corporation's land transfer process and the role of the officials concerned.

It is being claimed that under the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR), reserved land meant for a government department should be given free. Despite this, the corporation is alleged to have charged the market rate. Journalist and social worker Dheeraj Parab has submitted a complaint to the government. He has demanded an inquiry into the alleged financial loss to the government, recovery of the amount from the corporation, and legal action against those found guilty.

According to the information available, the decision to build the police commissionerate office on the land of reservation numbers 331, 332, 333, 334 and 335 in the Pleasant Park area of Mira Road was taken in the corporation's general body meeting. In support of the decision, it was said that a police commissionerate was necessary for the convenience of the city's people. The reservations were modified to make the space available.

The total area of these five reservations is stated to be 11,815 square metres. Of this, 7,364 square metres was in the corporation's possession. As the land was obtained through TDR, an objection has been raised that it should have been given free for a government office serving a public purpose such as a police commissionerate.

It is alleged that Rs 20 crore 6 lakh 92 thousand 720 was charged for this land at the market rate. The deal is said to be registered, and the final agreement was made on January 19, 2022, under document number 872/2022, between the corporation's then in-charge city engineer Deepak Khambit and the then assistant commissioner of police Vilas Sanap. The complainants claim the corporation had received the land through TDR without any direct cash payment. The question being raised is therefore why it was necessary to take such a large sum from the government's own police department.

Clause 11.2.12 on page 225 of the UDCPR is being cited. The regulations were approved in 2020. It is claimed that under this provision, if reserved land obtained through TDR is reserved for the state government or its department, it is to be given free to the department concerned. An official inquiry has been called necessary to establish how this rule applies to this particular deal, and what legal effect it would have on the general body resolution and the registered agreement.

In response, the corporation's in-charge city engineer Deepak Khambit said the decision to make the reservation for the police commissionerate and to give the reserved space to the police was taken in the general body meeting. According to him, compensation for the land was taken only as per the general body's decision.

Parab said he had submitted the complaint to the government in July. He alleges that the corporation has taken large amounts of government land free from the government in the name of public interest, while the market rate was collected from the government's own police department for the commissionerate office, which he called a contradiction. People are now watching whether the state's Urban Development Department, Home Department and the police administration will order an inquiry, and whether Rs 20 crore will be recovered if violations are found. The final picture will emerge only from the government's inquiry report, a scrutiny of documents and the stand of all parties.