September 10, 2025: The planned demolition of Samarth Complex in Dombivli by the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) on Tuesday was abruptly halted after the civic chief and other officials were urgently summoned by the state urban development department. The final decision now rests with the department.
The building is one of 65 illegal structures in Kalyan-Dombivli, constructed since 2020 using forged RERA certificates. Many of these projects were even uploaded on the MahaRERA portal, misleading buyers into believing they were legitimate. Most purchasers are middle-class families who invested between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 40 lakh in one- and two-bedroom flats, often through bank loans.
Just before the demolition was to begin at 11 a.m., residents staged a dramatic protest, holding bottles filled with petrol and threatening to set themselves alight if the drive went ahead. Protesters argued that the state government had earlier assured them no demolitions would be carried out.
Legal battles around the issue have been ongoing. In 2022, architect Sandeep Patil filed a petition in the Bombay High Court, leading to an SIT probe and the arrest of at least 15 people, including builders and document forgers. While some vacant buildings were demolished, action against occupied structures was paused to avoid mass evictions. However, in November 2024, the High Court ruled the buildings illegal and ordered their demolition.
Despite assurances in February from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that “genuine homebuyers” would be protected, residents claim no meaningful steps have followed. On Tuesday, residents reiterated their plea, insisting they had been deceived by fraudulent developers and official negligence.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Dipesh Mhatre joined the protest, while residents demanded that the state honour its promise to ensure no family is rendered homeless.
Source: The Times Of India
