120 Fake Maps Uncover Major Land Scam in Mumbai’s Coastal Areas
A significant land scam involving fraudulent property records in Mumbai’s coastal areas has been uncovered, with fake maps turning Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) lands into developable plots. The scam, which spans decades, has been linked to forged city survey maps, altered property boundaries, and manipulated government records, leading to illegal construction in environmentally sensitive regions.
An investigation revealed that out of 884 permanent enumeration maps maintained between 1955 and 1984, 102 were fake. These counterfeit maps featured fabricated survey numbers, nonexistent buildings, and false boundary adjustments. In some cases, these fake maps were even provided for Right to Information (RTI) queries, furthering the fraud. The fraudulent documents enabled the approval of construction and land sales in restricted areas, resulting in ecological harm and financial losses for the government. The issue first came to light in 2021, when Vaibhav Thakur, a farmer from Malad, raised concerns about unauthorized development near his family’s farmland. Thakur discovered that the official records had been altered, reclassifying previously restricted lands as developable zones. Despite his complaint, no progress was made, leading to further inquiries.
In 2021, Nitin Salunkhe, the deputy superintendent of land records, filed an FIR exposing the falsification of documents between 2012 and 2020. His complaint highlighted how these alterations allowed illegal construction in CRZ and No Development Zones. The case gained traction in the state assembly in 2022, prompting the formation of a government inquiry committee. After Thakur filed a plea for government action, the committee’s findings were submitted to the Bombay High Court, which ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in October 2024. The SIT was tasked with investigating four FIRs related to the scam. Last week, four individuals were arrested, including real estate agent Imam Shaikh, two retired City Survey Office officers, and contractor Narshim Puttawallu. These individuals are accused of working with BMC and Land Records Department staff to falsify property records and facilitate illegal development.
The investigation revealed that the scam involved contractors, government employees, and real estate brokers who collaborated to alter land records in areas like Versova, Madh Island, Marve, and other ecologically sensitive regions. As part of the ongoing probe, 18 government employees from the land records and BMC departments have also been interrogated. In response to the findings, the Maharashtra government has directed strict action against those involved in the scam, with the SIT taking custody of the original 884 maps from the Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre in Nagpur. The scandal underscores the need for vigilance in maintaining the integrity of land records and the importance of protecting Mumbai’s coastal and environmental zones from illegal construction.
