Marathi Actor Raises Alarm Over Mumbai Redevelopment Fraud, Prompts CM’s Action
Mumbai: Kishore Kadam, a renowned Marathi actor and poet known as Saumitra, has accused a builder of attempting to misclassify his residential building in Andheri as a slum to gain additional floor space index (FSI) during a redevelopment project. Kadam, recognized for his roles in films such as Special 26, Jogwa, and Fandry, raised the issue in a Facebook post on Monday, alleging that the move could jeopardize residents’ rights to their homes.
Kadam resides in the Hawa Mahal co-operative society in Chakala, Andheri East, a 925-square-meter complex with a single 30-year-old building housing 24 flats. The society has been in discussions with a builder for over a year to redevelop the property. In his post, Kadam claimed that the builder, in collaboration with the project management consultant, was misleading society members by leveraging a “majority of fools” to suppress those asking legitimate questions about the redevelopment process. He highlighted concerns raised by the society’s legal consultant, Pradeep Kadam, who warned that the builder’s draft development agreement referenced sections 33(11) and 33(12B) of the Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR). These sections, intended for slum rehabilitation and infrastructure-affected projects, are not applicable to cooperative society redevelopments and could lead to future complications.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Kadam revealed that he and his family faced ostracism within the society for questioning the process, including being excluded from a newly formed WhatsApp group for society members. “Despite the legal expert’s warnings, the majority are ignoring the risks, prioritizing redevelopment at any cost,” he said, describing the situation as an “urban atrocity.”
On Tuesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded to Kadam’s post, directing the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) and the co-operation department to investigate the allegations. Fadnavis confirmed he had discussed the issue with SRA CEO Mahendra Kalyankar and co-operation department secretary Pravin Darade, who would follow up with Kadam. Following the CM’s intervention, SRA officials reached out to the actor for further details. Kadam expressed gratitude to Fadnavis for his prompt action, hoping it would safeguard the interests of Hawa Mahal’s residents.