Mumbai: Housing society secretary assaulted for changing builder for redevelopment

The housing society

The secretary of a cooperative housing society near Sandhurst Road station was assaulted with a sharp weapon after the society had terminated the appointment of their earlier developer and floated a fresh tender for the redevelopment of their one-acre prime plot. The incident happened on the evening of October 6, the day the tender for redevelopment of Meghji Building Tenants Co-operative Housing Society was published in a regional newspaper. Society secretary Dharmesh Solanki, 50, an animal activist, was attacked when he stepped out after meeting one of the residents in a hotel at Mazgaon.

On evening of the attack

Solanki said, "I was about to start my two-wheeler, when two men on a motorcycle wearing helmets came close to me and the pillion rider assault me with a sharp weapon." Solanki dodged when the assailant tried to strike him the third time. "There was a terrible burning sensation and blood gushed out of my right arm," said Solanki. He was immediately rushed to JJ Hospital. "They [including the local politician] were annoyed with me for terminating the agreement with the developer and were irked when the fresh tender was floated," said Solanki.

The demolition order pasted on one of the three wings of Meghji Building Tenants Co-operative Housing Society

Dilapidated structure

The housing society houses 114 flats with areas ranging from 180 sq feet to 250 sq feet and has common toilets. Most families belong to the lower middle class category. Solanki said the three wings of the ground plus three storeyed structure were declared dilapidated by MHADA in 2020.

Local politician with vested interest

Solanki said ever since the buildings were declared dilapidated and demolition work started, a local politician coerced the residents and committee members to select the developer recommended by him. The local politician had also allegedly threatened to stall the construction work, if the redevelopment work was given to any other developer, said Solanki. Solanki said, "Heeding the local politician, we selected this particular developer and he gave R50 lakh cheque towards earnest money, which was never deposited in the bank by the society."

‘Contract was terminated'

Between December 2022 and June 2023, the developer failed to make any progressive communication pertaining to the redevelopment work, nor did he ever visit the site or hold meetings with the society members who are incurring huge expenses towards rent.

Dharmesh Solanki recuperating at the JJ Hospital

The society unanimously decided to terminate the agreement with the developer in June 2023 as the developer had failed to acknowledge the ultimatum given by the society. "We have followed all due process of law, before terminating the contract," said Solanki. The project site is located at one of the most premium locations in Mumbai.

"A flat with an area of 180 sq feet in this location comes with a price tag of Rs 75 lakh plus and after redevelopment each flat would have been easily sold for over Rs 2.50 crore to Rs 3 crore. We were promised a 2 BHK flat of 650 sq feet by the local politician. Neither the politician nor the developer ever showed the proposed plan, nor discussed anything with us. We later learnt that the developer referred by the politician was booked in criminal cases," said Solanki.

Not scared

"I am not scared, but my family members are shaken. I will continue to fight for our society members' rights," said Solanki while recuperating in ward number four of JJ Hospital. "Nearly 60 to 80 per cent of the committee members and the residents have faith in me and they acknowledge my legal acumen and hence those with vested interests made an attempt to eliminate me so that they could grab the entire property. They know that I won't succumb to their threats and assault," said Solanki.

The police

Byculla police lodged an FIR under sections 326 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code for assault using a dangerous weapon. "We have zeroed in on two suspects and are questioning them. We are also going through the CCTV footage from the scene of the incident to get further clues," said a police officer from Byculla police station.

Expert Speak

Advocate Shreeprasad Parab, director, State Housing Federation, said, "With many housing societies going for redevelopment, incidents of intimidating committee members will only increase and hence educating every member to be united and supportive of each other in the larger interest, is the need of the hour."