The issue of CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) record manipulation at the city survey office was brought up in the Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday, where the government confirmed the registration of four cases and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the fraudulent alterations. The Times of India had first reported on the scam on January 6.
According to a report submitted by the Director of Land Records, Maharashtra, on April 22, 2022, a total of 165 maps and 9 original charts had been tampered with. The investigation revealed that out of 884 boundary maps, 102 maps were forged, and 8 original land records from Mauje Malvan, Mauje Poisar, and Mauje Erangal showed signs of manipulation. As a result, nine individuals, including city survey officials, have been arrested. Among the key figures in the scam is contractor Narshim Puttawallu, who is implicated across all four FIRs.
The investigation found that the group manipulated land classifications using forged maps to enable construction in CRZ or NDZ (No Development Zones) areas. They altered entries in official city survey maps and created false records indicating pre-1964 structures, which are exempt from CRZ regulations.
Further investigation revealed that 205 RTI (Right to Information) applications were filed to provide apparent legitimacy for the altered records. Of the 15 landowners questioned, four admitted to seeking Puttawallu’s help to change the classification of their properties.
