Politician playing extortionist in Bhandup: Builders
MUMBAI: Half a dozen top builders in the Bhandup-Mulund belt claim they are facing extortion demands from a local politician belonging to a regional party.
A leading developer told TOI that the politician has filed a slew of frivolous complaints against his project with the local building proposals department. "The harassment is unparalleled. Civic engineers have been terrorized, they are under pressure to issue stop-work notices against projects here," he said.
Another builder claimed he paid several lakhs to shake off the politician. "Now he is demanding crores. We are at our wit's end," he told TOI. Many hinted that the demands are up as state elections are drawing closer.
Developers claimed a slew of RTI applications has been filed in the local BMC office to find lapses in cleared projects so that they can be blackmailed.
In the eastern suburbs, building plans approved by municipal commissioner S J Kunte are being held back because of interference from political goons, sources said.
A leading developer told TOI that the politician has filed a slew of frivolous complaints against his project with the local building proposals department. "The harassment is unparalleled. Civic engineers have been terrorized, they are under pressure to issue stop-work notices against projects here," he said.
Another builder claimed he paid several lakhs to shake off the politician. "Now he is demanding crores. We are at our wit's end," he told TOI. Many hinted that the demands are up as state elections are drawing closer.
Developers claimed a slew of RTI applications has been filed in the local BMC office to find lapses in cleared projects so that they can be blackmailed.
In the eastern suburbs, building plans approved by municipal commissioner S J Kunte are being held back because of interference from political goons, sources said.
