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Police in Nashik have registered a cheating and forgery case against more than 150 landowners and developers in connection with alleged violations of Maharashtra's inclusive housing regulations. The case, filed at Sarkarwada police station following a land records department complaint, stems from an inquiry into residential projects that allegedly bypassed the mandatory 20% reservation for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) housing in developments exceeding 4,000 sq m. Investigators found that several developers and landowners had allegedly split large land parcels into smaller plots through fabricated documents to remain below the regulatory threshold and avoid allocating EWS units. The projects fall within the jurisdiction of Nashik Municipal Corporation, where such reserved housing is required to be handed over to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). Authorities said more than 100 projects across the city are under scrutiny as the investigation continues.
More than 150 landowners and developers in Nashik have been booked on charges of cheating and forgery after an investigation found that several residential projects allegedly bypassed mandatory provisions for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) housing under Maharashtra's inclusive housing policy. Advertisement
The case was registered at Sarkarwada police station earlier this month following a complaint filed by an officer from the land records department. The complaint was based on findings from an inquiry committee chaired by the additional district collector, which examined whether developers complied with regulations requiring 20% of land in residential projects larger than 4,000 sq m to be reserved for EWS housing.
Under the state housing policies introduced in 2013 and 2017, developers undertaking large residential projects are required to allocate a portion of the project for affordable housing targeted at lower-income households. Within the jurisdiction of Nashik Municipal Corporation, these reserved units are to be transferred through the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), which then allocates them to eligible beneficiaries.
Investigators found that several landowners and developers had allegedly attempted to circumvent the rule by artificially splitting larger plots into multiple smaller parcels. According to officials, fabricated layout plans, forged documents, and falsified measurement records were used to create the appearance that the plots fell below the 4,000 sq m threshold, thereby avoiding the requirement to provide EWS housing within the projects.
The inquiry identified at least 49 instances in which land parcels were allegedly subdivided through manipulated records and submitted to the authorities as independent plots. These developments were located in several parts of the city, including Gangapur, Chehdi, Panchak, Nandur Dasak, Mhasrul, Wihitgaon, Wadner Dumala, Deolali, Agartakli and Adgaon.
Police officials indicated that the list of accused includes more than 100 landowners along with several developers and other unidentified collaborators. The first information report invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to cheating, creation of false documents, and forgery. Authorities stated that the investigation would determine the individual roles of landowners, developers, and other parties involved in the alleged violations.
Preliminary findings suggest that more than 100 residential projects across Nashik may have been developed in a manner that avoided the EWS housing obligation. Officials added that the manipulation of land records and layout plans prevented a substantial portion of affordable housing from being created under the inclusive housing framework.
Police have stated that further investigation is underway and arrests may follow depending on the evidence gathered during the probe. Authorities are also reviewing project approvals and land records submitted during the development process to determine whether additional violations of planning and housing regulations occurred.
The case has drawn attention to compliance enforcement under Maharashtra's inclusive housing regulations, which require developers to reserve a share of housing stock for lower-income households in larger residential projects. Officials indicated that the ongoing investigation would examine whether similar practices have occurred in other projects across the city.
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