26 August,2026 08:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MS
Civic workers raze constructions in apartments housed in two towers of the Rustomjee Crown housing complex in Prabhadevi on Tuesday. Pics/By Special Arrangement
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday initiated a crackdown on 128 apartments spread across two towers with 63 storeys each at Rustomjee Crown, a housing complex comprising three buildings on the premises of Crown Mills in Prabhadevi. The action followed complaints that common lobby areas, open spaces near elevators, and utility duct areas were illegally incorporated into flats by owners of the apartments.
Of the complex's three towers, two have been granted an occupancy certificate, and are now homes to high-profile politicians, media house honchos, and leaders of other multinational corporations, according to Mumbai-based RTI activist Santosh Daundkar, who had raised the complaint.
Daundkar has claimed that several high-profile politicians have purchased homes in this tower, including a Maharashtra minister, his wife, and an MLA's son. A former minister has also rented an apartment in the same tower for a monthly rent of Rs 4.2 lakh, Daundkar has claimed. Moreover, he said the heads of at least two national media houses have purchased homes in the building, and several corporates have apartments registered in their names.
[popcorn number="Nov 2025" desc="Month activists raised allegations" class="Default"]
He, however, said, "My team and I are investigating this further to check if our information is correct. We have the paperwork that points to prominent names, but the documents seem sketchy to us." mid-day was unable to verify the names of occupants and tenants of the building. In a statement on Tuesday, the BMC said that the action was carried out against unauthorised constructions and alterations at the building that violated the sanctioned plan and floor space index norms. Following complaints, 138 notices were served to apartments in Wings A and B under provisions of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, and the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966.
In November 2025, Daundkar complained to Ashwini Joshi, the then-additional municipal commissioner (city), that "ward officers, colluding with politicians and developers, encroached upon open spaces to expand their livable area in Rustomjee Crown. Daundkar said in this letter, "It is widely known through media reports dated September 17, 2025, that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has taken on lease an apartment in the said project for its senior functionary at an exceptionally high rent (approximately R7 lakh per month)." At the time, Daundkar urged the BMC to conduct an independent enquiry into alleged illegalities noticed in the building, in violation of the Development Plan 2034.
Daundkar said, "According to information, the action was taken within the premises of Tower A of the housing society on Monday and against apartments in Tower B on Tuesday. There are 128 apartments in this housing society. All of them are encroached. Hence, the BMC's drive is being carried out over four days."
