Mumbai News: RTI Activist Kamlakar Shenoy Detained While Seeking Action On ₹3 Lakh Crore MHADA Scam Complaint Pending For 30 Months; VIDEO

Mumbai: In a shocking turn of events, RTI activist Kamlakar Shenoy, along with Gaurang Vora, Priti Dhamale, and Mukesh Sharma, was detained for two hours by Azad Maidan Police after they visited the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) office to follow up on a complaint filed over 30 months ago.

The complaint alleges a massive ₹3 lakh crore fraud involving MHADA officials and several top IAS officers. FPJ tried to Connect senior official to know Police side, but he didn't reply.

Despite being given a time slot of 4 PM to 6 PM to meet the Joint Commissioner of Police (Jt CP), the group was denied an audience. Instead, EOW officials called Azad Maidan police, who detained the four at the police station for two hours before releasing them.

Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Shenoy accused EOW of “deliberately playing mischief” by not registering an FIR despite the fact that the inquiry confirmed cognizable offences 18 months ago. Shenoy claimed that his complaint — related to the illegal computation of surplus tenements owed to MHADA by developers — has not moved forward due to deliberate inaction.

The core of Shenoy’s complaint lies in the wrongful calculation of surplus area owed to MHADA in redevelopment projects. As per Section 103(I)(3) of the relevant housing law, the surplus area to be handed over to MHADA is clearly defined.

However, according to Shenoy, no project in the last 30 years has complied with this provision. This miscalculation, he alleges, has resulted in windfall gains for developers — with the surplus area often being 300-400% less than what should actually be handed over.

Shenoy estimates that the actual loss to the state from this fraud could be as high as ₹40,000 crore, with his complaint only scratching the surface of the entire irregularity. Shenoy alleges that at least 25–30 IAS officers, including the CEO of MHADA, Chief Officers of Mumbai Board and RRB, and Resident Executive Engineers, are implicated in the scam.

Violation of Legal Protocols: Quoting Section 154(1) of the CrPC, Shenoy emphasized that the police are bound to register an FIR within 15 days of receiving a cognizable complaint, or otherwise formally inform the complainant if there is no substance to the allegation, Said Shenoy.

He further cited Section 160 of the CrPC, which prohibits the police from summoning senior citizens and women to the police station — a provision allegedly violated during their detention at Azad Maidan.

He also referenced the Supreme Court ruling in Satender Kumar Antil vs. CBI (2022), which warns against arbitrary arrests and detention, particularly of vulnerable groups like senior citizens.

“The Jt CP has avoided meeting us for over a year, offering no justification for the 30-month delay in acting on a complaint that exposes systemic corruption,” said Shenoy. He also questioned the legality of police detaining senior citizens after 6 PM, especially when they were only seeking justice in a public interest matter.

“This is not just about the fraud anymore,” said Shenoy. “This is about protecting those who blew the whistle and ensuring the system doesn’t become a tool for suppressing truth.”

Shenoy and his group have vowed to take the matter to higher judicial forums, demanding immediate FIR registration and disciplinary action against EOW officials for dereliction of duty. The case, now being closely followed, has the potential to uncover one of Maharashtra’s largest real estate scams, with ripple effects across the administrative and political establishment.