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A developer has been arrested in Nashik in connection with alleged violations of the mandatory Economically Weaker Section (EWS) housing quota across 49 residential projects. The action follows a police investigation into complaints that builders and landowners collectively bypassed the requirement to reserve 20% of project land for EWS housing in developments exceeding 4,000 sq m. Authorities have named around 197 individuals, including developers and landlords, in the case. Investigators have alleged that forged documents were used to fragment land parcels and evade regulatory thresholds. The case, registered earlier this month at Sarkarwada police station, stems from findings of a district-level inquiry into compliance with Maharashtra's housing policies of 2013 and 2017.
A Nashik-based developer has been arrested by the Sarkarwada police in the past week in connection with alleged violations of the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) housing quota across multiple residential projects, following an investigation into suspected regulatory breaches involving land subdivision and document falsification. Advertisement
The arrest relates to a case involving 49 housing projects in Nashik, where authorities have identified approximately 197 individuals, including builders and landowners, suspected of bypassing statutory requirements mandating reservation of 20% of project area for EWS housing in developments exceeding 4,000 sq m.
According to investigators, the alleged violations were carried out by artificially splitting large land parcels into smaller plots to bring them below the regulatory threshold, thereby avoiding the obligation to allocate housing for economically weaker sections. Officials stated that forged documents were used in the process to facilitate such subdivision and misrepresentation of project sizes.
The case was registered earlier this month based on a complaint filed by a land records department official, following findings of a committee led by the additional district collector. The inquiry examined compliance with Maharashtra's housing policies introduced in 2013 and 2017, which require developers to earmark a portion of larger residential projects for EWS housing.
Police officials indicated that the accused developer was summoned for questioning before being taken into custody. A court has since remanded the individual to police custody as the investigation continues. Authorities are examining documentation related to land transactions, approvals, and project layouts to establish the extent of the alleged violations.
The investigation spans multiple locations within the Nashik municipal limits, including areas such as Mhasrul, Deolali, Gangapur, and adjoining zones, where several residential developments were found to be non-compliant with EWS provisions. Officials stated that the scale of the case suggests coordinated action among multiple stakeholders, including developers and landowners.
Under the applicable policy framework, residential projects above the specified threshold are required to reserve a defined portion of land or built-up area for EWS housing, typically to be transferred to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) for allocation. Investigators noted that non-compliance in these projects may have led to a significant shortfall in affordable housing supply that would otherwise have been available to eligible beneficiaries.
The FIR invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to cheating, forgery, and creation of false documents. Authorities indicated that further arrests may follow as the roles of other individuals named in the case are examined, with several suspects reported to have sought anticipatory bail.
The case highlights ongoing enforcement action against deviations from inclusionary housing norms in Maharashtra, particularly in fast-growing urban markets where regulatory compliance is critical to ensuring supply of affordable housing within larger residential developments.
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