Mumbai top cop in trouble for 'cancelling flats at inflated price'

A city builder has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the state AntiCorruption Bureau ACB complaining that Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Barve told him to buy back two apartments at an inflated rate The letter also alleges that Barve threatened the builder A senior ACB official confirmed to midday that they have received the complaint without divulging further details Barve denied all allegations telling midday There is no merit in the complaintIn the letter a copy of which is with midday the owner of Bhawani Developers who identifies himself as Mohammed Arshad Mohammed Kaleem Siddiqui has said that Barve bought two sale component apartments in an SRA project named Bhawani Heights in Majaswadi Jogeshwari The two flats admeasuring a combined carpet area of 1048 square feet were sold to Barves wife Sharmila for R135 crore in April 2015 said SiddiquiPolice Commissioner Sanjay BarveIn 2017 Barve approached the builder through his partner and expressed a desire to sell the two apartments which were still under construction back to the builder as the commissioner was in urgent financial need the complaint said Siddiqui cited the real estate slump and asked for time After a while Siddiqui said the senior IPS officer initially asked him to pay the same price at which the flats were bought R13485500 I agreed and first paid him R50 lakh on December 26 2018 and another R25 lakh on March 12 2019 Siddiqui said in the complaintHad no choiceHowever after receiving the tranche of R75 lakh Barve suddenly demanded a total of R225 crore said Siddiqui I had no choice but to accept his new demand the complaint said I paid him Barve a further R46 lakh on May 20 and pleaded him to give me sufficient time for further payment Instead of obliging me by giving me sufficient time he demanded an additional R50 lakhMohammed Arshad Siddiqui builderSiddiqui said this brought Barves total demand to R275 crore despite a weak market Siddiqui said he expressed his inability to pay the huge amount to Barve due to acute financial crisis but the commissioner started threatening me with dire consequences if I did not make the paymentAlso ReadAfter taking away their roof Mumbai cops burn their belongingsFacing threatsHe told me he has information of all my construction projects and that he would stop all my projects and will implicate me in false cases He threatened that he could register several cases against me at various police stations in Mumbai Siddiqui said in his complaint to the chief ministerWhen midday contacted Siddiqui he said In my letter to the CM I have mentioned about the problem and threat I am facing from the Mumbai police commissioner The same has been given to the ACB I would not like to comment anything beyond this at this stageAlso ReadMumbai crime Cops find colleague involved in gambling racket during hotel raid in DadarHe however alleged that on June 15 and 17 men who identified themselves as being from the Economic Offences Wing of Mumbai police barged into his office and started interrogating his staffThis is not a regular and usual complaint Siddiqui said in his complaint I am constantly under threat and mental agony It is nothing but abuse of power It is necessary to hold a highlevel inquiry in the matter and get rid of the grave situation of my lifeThe letter also refers to the current housing law MahaRERA Even under MahaRERA provisions the amount payable by a developer to a purchaser in case of cancellation of the deal is 106 per cent per annum Even if we calculate the amount payable to Barve sahib as per this it comes to approximately R2 crore the letter saidMalignant motivesWhile Barve refused to be drawn into the details sources in the know said the complaint has been lodged with the intent of maligning the commissioner The sources said Barve was not even the Mumbai police commissioner when he bought the two flats nor did he ever anticipate that he will occupy the coveted post in the futureAlso ReadMumbai Crime Railway employee booked for biting woman cop travelling in first classAll due procedure mdash like informing and taking permission of the government as per civil service rules mdash were followed when buying and selling the flats said a source said There is no question of hiding anything In fact the only complaint against the commissioner during his entire tenure is this one from this developer This clearly shows it is a case of personal vendetta and has nothing to do with the profession or misuse of powerRs 135crThe price Barve bought the two flats for in 2015Rs 18crThe current value of the flats as per readyreckonerRs 275crThe price Barve allegedly demanded from the builderRs 121crAmount builder claims to have repaid BarveCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates