The minister said 1,124 cases of homebuyer fraud have been registered with MahaRERA across the state. Of these, 182 cases have already been resolved, and ₹137 crore has been recovered from developers. The total amount involved in these fraudulent transactions stands at ₹672 crore. The government aims to expedite the remaining cases and ensure the recovery of funds for affected homebuyers within three months, Bawankule assured the House.
MLC Davkhare raised concerns about the low rate of recovery in key regions such as Thane, Raigad, and Palghar, where only 3% of the total amount due has been recovered. He questioned the government’s plan to ensure stricter enforcement and whether fast-track action would be taken to protect homebuyers from fraud. Additionally, Davkhare highlighted cases where developers had allegedly submitted fake MahaRERA certificates to mislead buyers. In Thane, Palghar, and Raigad, at least 840 homebuyers have been deceived through fraudulent sales. He demanded strict action against such builders and sought clarity on whether the government would intervene to provide relief to the victims.
Responding to these concerns, Minister Bawankule emphasised that MahaRERA was established to protect homebuyers from fraud and hold developers accountable. “If a developer is found guilty, district collectors are authorised to recover the amount from them and distribute it among the affected buyers,” he said. The minister reiterated that while ₹137 crore had been successfully recovered, the government is committed to recovering the remaining amount swiftly. He assured that the process would be completed within three months to bring relief to cheated homebuyers.
Bawankule addressed cases where not only homebuyers but also landowners were deceived by developers. He stated that the government is working on measures to liquidate assets owned by fraudulent developers in any part of the state to compensate victims.
During the session, MLC Davkhare also flagged a scam in the Kalyan-Dombivli area, where developers allegedly created fake MahaRERA IDs to sell apartments. In response, Minister Bawankule acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and assured that a special meeting would be convened in the final week of the ongoing legislative session to discuss possible government interventions.
The assurance from the state government comes amid growing concerns about real estate fraud in Maharashtra. The MahaRERA Act was introduced to bring transparency to the sector, but cases of fraudulent developers exploiting loopholes continue to emerge. The government’s commitment to faster resolutions and stricter action is expected to bring much-needed relief to affected homebuyers. With the government now actively pursuing these cases, homebuyers hope for a speedy resolution and strict penalties for fraudulent developers to restore confidence in the state’s real estate sector.
