Poll victory empowers cops awaiting dream homes

The 120-acre land parcel in Khalapur, Raigad, meant for housing of policemen is in the name of the project’s chief promoter, a retired IPS officer

The promoters of Brihanmumbai Police Cooperative Housing Society who were accused of derailing the Mumbai police housing project for over 12 years in Vayal village, Khalapur, Raigad, lost the recently held society election. The outcome of the election is certainly a major achievement for the aggrieved policemen despite the "flawed voter list." Interestingly, this was the first election held in the last twelve years, after the previous committee was ousted by the deputy registrar, cooperative department, Raigad, on May 15, 2023. The deputy registrar had observed serious lapses and major irregularities in the functioning of the previous committee.

The newly formed committee that won the election with a thumping majority is from the ‘Dhyas-Swayam Vikas' panel which means intent on self development. The members of the society include both retired and serving cops from the ranks of police constables, head constables, assistant sub inspectors and sub inspectors. Mid-day in its article titled, "Twelve years on, Mumbai police rank and file await dream homes" dated September 21, 2023 had written about the 120-acre plot on the outskirts of Mumbai.

Won by a majority

The policemen had to contest the election as the cooperative court had turned down their plea to stay the election on the grounds of flawed electoral roll. Their plea to hold the election in the Mumbai region was also turned down by the election officer. The election was scheduled on October 7 at A C Patil College of Engineering, Kharghar. "Out of 4906 eligible voters, 2,441 voters exercised their voting rights, of which over 1500 members voted in favour of ‘Dhyas-Swayam Vikas' panel members," said a policeman.

The new committee has been formed and the members have proposed the names of Dhanajay Chandrashekar Jangam, head constable, as the chairman, Nitin Shakyaputra, retired assistant sub-inspector, as the secretary and Arun Pandit, retired police sub-inspector, as the treasurer, said a member from the newly elected committee. The formal appointment of these elected members as officer-bearers is awaited. The newly elected committee has vowed to expose the wrongdoings of the earlier committee including the role of a retired IPS and other senior police officers, involved in the mega housing project, and they have demanded a high-level probe.

Advocate Speak

Advocate Siddharth Ingle said, "We are now in the process of approaching the competent authority, requesting a probe panel to investigate the illegalities and irregularities including alleged misappropriation of funds running into hundreds of crores by the chief promoters and other senior police officers, including a senior police officer, in whose name 85 guntas of land, had been transferred."

What next

According to advocate Ingle, "The expelled committee is yet to handover the charge of the society to the authorised board of officers appointed by the assistant registrar of cooperative department who will then hand over the reins to the elected committee." "Before we focus on the housing project, the membership list will have to be updated as per the prescribed norms and all this will take some time," said a member of the elected panel.