DCP-rank officer to probe sale of BMC land by sr civic official ‘squatting on post’ | Mumbai News
Mumbai: Amid charges that a BMC officer was involved in a purported sale this year of 10 Borivli plots owned by and in possession of the civic body and that she is reluctant to give up the post of assistant municipal commissioner despite being promoted as deputy municipal commissioner (DMC), industries minister Uday Samant said in the legislative council on Tuesday that a DCP-rank officer will probe the alleged land scam and the civic official will be directed to take her new charge immediately.The issue was raised by Congress’s Bhai Jagtap through a calling attention motion. He pointed out that Saibaba Nagar layout in Borivli, spanning 4.7 acres, was developed in the late 1970s. The layout has 18 plots, of which 10 were handed over to BMC. In Development Plan-2034, these 10 plots were shown as being reserved for a higher education institute, a municipal school, a dispensary and a playground. On the remaining eight plots, there are 16 residential buildings that went in for redevelopment, which was stayed by the civic official, said Jagtap.”In 2021, when I raised the issue with the then municipal commissioner, Iqbal Chahal, and pointed out that even after 40 years, the property registration card (PRC) of these 10 plots did not bear the name of BMC, he directed the then assistant municipal commissioner to ensure that the process was completed within seven days and that the PRC reflected the name of BMC as the owner,” said the Congress MLC. “However, early this year, all 10 plots were sold in connivance with the ward officer. She was promoted as DMC, but has refused to take charge and continues in the post. She must be sent on leave immediately,” he demanded.Samant said the entire matter was being investigated by a sub-inspector, but the probe will now be helmed by a DCP. “The Mumbai police commissioner will be given instructions to this effect [on Tuesday] itself,” he said.On the redevelopment being stayed, he said there were other legal issues as well, which were being sorted out with the relevant authorities.
