Premnath Jha killing – Petition to CM, Muni Commrs, Top Cops etc. SENT TODAY with 50 signatures

Dear friends,

 

Thank you for supporting this petition to Chief Minister, Municipal Commissioners of Mumbai, Thane & Navi Mumbai, and many others.

 

Copy of this letter was endorsed to 55 top builders, who are office-bearers of Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI) and Builders Association of Navi Mumbai (BANM). Many of them are surely part of the inner circle who know who killed Premnath Jha, and also who attacked other RTI activists last year. More importantly, these 55 persons have an intimate knowledge and experience of how the rules and laws are being bent and corroded to further the interests of the builder community.

 

In the letter, we have urged the Chief minister and others to take cognizance of the special place that this circle of insiders occupies in the scheme of things. They are morally responsible for a lot of the wrongdoings. READ OUR LETTER BELOW, ALONG WITH THE LIST OF SIGNATORIES.

 

This ADDRESS LIST will be useful to anybody who wishes to undertake such a letter-writing exercise:http://tinyurl.com/68-addresses-incl-Big-Builders    

 

My dear colleague G R Vora couriered this letter to six addresses today, and dispatched it to the remaining addresses. See courier receipt: http://tinyurl.com/Courier-Receipt-Letr-2-CM-Prem

(Thank you GRV for your hard work and generosity.)

 

Warm Regards,

Krish

9821588114

thebravepedestrian@gmail.com

 

 

COPY OF LETTER SENT

 

29 February, 2012

 

To

Shri Prithviraj Chavan,

Chief Minister of Maharashtra,

Mantralaya, 6th Floor,  Madame Cama Road,

Mumbai 400032

 

Premnath Jha murder:

Investigate Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry & Mantralaya Officials;
Create Watch-List of Unscrupulous Builders to Safeguard Civil Society

 

Sir,

Premnath Jha had sought details of several construction projects in the Vasai-Virar area; he was shot dead on February 24. The connection is plainly visible. Please take action based on this.

Sir, we frequently hear in private conversations with builders that all difficulties can be "managed" at Mantralaya, and project clearances can be obtained despite severe shortcomings. Civil society is paying the price for the administration's leniency, and many RTI activists are losing their lives trying to expose the nexus between builders and state officials.

 

TO CURB THIS:

 

1)      INVESTIGATE MAHARASHTRA CHAMBER OF HOUSING INDUSTRY (MCHI) and other bodies like Builders' Association of Navi Mumbai (BANM). MCHI and other bodies are intimately aware of illegalities and criminal offenses being carried out by their members, along with friendly non-members abetting them. They facilitate and protect such builders, act as a respectable front for them before the government and media, lobby for loosening of rules and laws, and engage in expensive PR exercises to whitewash their image. Such associations conveniently ignore issues that should deeply concern them, such as the most recent murder of Premnath Jha, the assault on Yashwant Gavand and Santosh Daundkar in Jan-Feb 2011, and police harassment of Kamlakar Shenoy in July 2011. MCHI, BANM and other associations pretend to be unaware of blatant illegalities of their leading members Niranjan Hiranandani in Powai, Sukhraj B Nahar in Chandivali, Ramakant Jadhav (Shivalik Ventures) in Golibar and Bhupendra Shah (Bhumiraj Constructions) on Palm Beach Road. Please recognize MCHI and BANM's pivotal role in such matters, and instruct police teams investigating Premnath Jha's murder and other crimes to question their members.Also, check the spectacular growth of the personal assets of leading MCHI and BANM members, and their close family members.

 

2)      PURGE CORRUPT OFFICIALS. Mantralaya and municipal corporations are sheltered places, as police investigating teams rarely go there. This must change, because all builders collaborate with government officials to commit irregularities and crimes. Scrutinize these key officials, and sack them if complicity is revealed:

·         Executive Engineer, Building Proposal, MCGM and other municipal corporations

·         Deputy Chief Engineer, Building Proposal

·         Director, Engineering Services & Projects (Municipal Corporation)

·         Senior Police Inspectors (who turn a blind eye to illegal construction & criminal activities following 'orders from above')

·         District Collectors & Additional Collectors (Encroachment Removal)

·         CIDCO's Planning Department & Controller of Unauthorized Constructions

·         Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA

·         Secretaries of Urban Development and Revenue Department

 

Firstly, let vigilance officers examine suspicious decisions and unusual asset growth of persons who have held the above-mentioned posts in the last 10 years. Secondly, in connection with Premnath Jha's murder and other crimes, please direct the police to interrogate these people. Both kinds of searches will surely reveal witnesses, evidence, important leads for cracking the case, and also, the hands of powerful politicians sheltering the builders.

 

3)      CREATE A STATE GOVT PANEL ENABLING RTI ACTIVISTS TO DEPOSE & SUBMIT INCRIMINATING DOCUMENTS against builders and their henchmen. Based on such prima facieevidence, create a watch-list of builders suspected of rampant illegalities, criminal activities and tax evasion. Ban the builders on this watch-list. Also, make them the prime suspects whenever someone like Premnath Jha is killed or assaulted.

 

4)      CALL 5-YEAR MORATORIUM ON NEW PROJECT APPROVALS and step in to strictly regulate this runaway industry. Otherwise, a huge housing bubble is growing alarmingly; and when this bubble bursts, prices will crash, triggering mass defaults of housing loans, banking failure and contagion to other sectors. From 2005 to 2012, property prices in MMR doubled, even as inventory of one lakh flats accumulated. It will take about four years to clear this unsold stock. The monopolistic cartel of builders, financiers and estate agent is corrupting the administration, destroying market mechanisms and artificially hiking prices. It is playing pass-the-parcel, forcing investors and banks to carry its business risks. When the music stops, there will be crushing losses all around, widespread business closures and unimaginable suffering to our families. The common man will be left pointing fingers at the government for its failure to foresee this disaster.

 

Sir, step in decisively to stop these dangerous games. Protect the lives of common people and the economy of Maharashtra. The killing of RTI activist Premnath Jha is an alarm bell, signaling an extremely dangerous conspiracy that is not only anti-people, but also anti-state. Please don't ignore this alarm bell.

 

Yours Sincerely,

G R Vora,

E-mail :  grvora1@gmail.com

Plot - 275 / 3, Gope Nivas, Dr B A Road, Sion E, Mumbai – 400022.

Cell : 09869195785.

 

Plus 50 Signatories:

 

1.        Krishnaraj Rao, Borivali East, Mumbai, Journalist, Cell: 9821588114 thebravepedestrian@gmail.com

 

2.       Mohammed Afzal,  Human Rights activist, Andheri, Mumbai, Cell: 9820490435 mohdafzal1963@gmail.com

 

3.  Dolphy Dsouza – Cell:  9820226227, Santacruz E, Mumbai Businessman personnelpeople@gmail.com
4. Jaynish Shah, Mumbai,  Cell: 09324365226 jaynish_ash@hotmail.com
5. Col. (Retd) N Thiagarajan, Vikhroli, Mumbai – 79,  Retired, Cell : 09920541864 mat.thiagrajan@gmail.com
6. Ketan D Maniar, Santacruz W, Mumbai 54, Businessman, Cell: 09821034547,  ketanmaniar@gmail.com
7. Pearl Goswami, Bandra W Retired Air-India Executive, Cell: 09892310000, pearlngoswami@gmail.com
8. Ashok S Rathod, Ghatkopar E, Mumbai,  Cell: 09821741445, ashok.s.rathod@gmail.com
9. C. Ravindranath, Vidyanagar, Pune – 32 Cell :  09422314642   ravindranath05@gmail.com
10. Jeetendra Ghadge,  Mumbai,  Activist,   Cell : 09773119544,  dream.jeet@gmail.com.
11. Ainee Nizami,  Goregaon, Mumbai,  Cell : 09769226967, Journalist aineenizami@gmail.com
12. Advo. Rina Kamath,  Colaba, Mumbai,  Cell :  09820235034, Legal Practioner,  rinakamath@gmail.com.
13. Utsal Karani,  Activist, Hon. Secy.  Janhit Manch,  Juhu Scheme,  Cell :  09324991030, janhitmanch@gmail.com
14. Advo. Vinod Sampat,  Legal Practitioner,  Ghatkopar, Mumbai,  vinodsampat@gmail.com.
15. Kanwarjit Singh,  Retired, Juhu, Mumbai, Cell : 09833062713,  chhachhi@gmail.com.
16. Suresh Merani,  Self employed,  Bandra W, Mumbai  50, Cell : 09870012054,  rannkar@rediffmail.com.
17. Kishore samtani,  Chembur, Mumbai 74, Retired, Cell :  09833517514, samtani.kishore@gmail.com
18. Melroy Fernandes, Naigaon W, Vasai, Master Mariner (F.G.), Activist, Cell: 09869378109. melroy70@yahoo.co.in
19. Dr. Emmanuel D'Silva,  Mahim, Mumbai,  Retired, Cell : 09930537002, ehdsilva@yahoo.com.
20. Vivek Mhatre,  Nallasopara E, Thane. Civil Engineer,  Cell :  07208853593, vivekmhatre10@gmail.com,  
21. Dr Y T Oke,  Retd. Cons. Paediatrician, Sahar, Mumbai 99, Ph 022-28230286, yeshwantoke@yahoo.com.
22. Dr Avisha Kulkarni,  National Convenor – Deshbhakti Andolan,  Goregaon, deshbhaktiandolan@gmail.com.
23. S Balakrishnan, Secretary General – Deshbhakti Andolan, Chembur, Mumbaideshbhaktiandolan@gmail.com.
24. Anand Desai, Psychologist,  Cell :  09820602715, Andheri W, Mumbai,  a_y_desai@hotmail.com.
25. Kisan Mehta,  Chembur Mumbai 74,  Senior environmentalist,  Cell : 09223448857, kisansbc@gmail.com
26. Ms Priya Salvi, Chembur, Mumbai, Senior environmentalist, Cell : 09324027494www.savebombaycommittee.org
27. Kanu Kamdar,  Senior activist, Mumbai,  Cell :  9821999401,  www.savebombaycommittee.org
28. Niraj Mehta,  Activist, Chembur, Mumbai, Cell :  09167474289, www.savebombaycommittee.org
29. Clarence Pinto, Santacruz, Mumbai, Activist, Cell :  09869649138, clarencepi@gmail.com.
30. Rajiv P Patel,  Santacruz, Mumbai,  Activist, Cell: 09833733365,  rpatel.fffie@gmail.com.
31. Manu M Pillai,  Student RTI Activist, Dombivali E, Pin-421204, iacmanupillai@gmail.com.
32. Mazhar Vahanvaty, Bandra W, Mumbai – 50, Businessman,  09821818299, mehhv11052@gmail.com.
33.  Dr D N Verma,  Vashi, Navi Mumbai,  Retired,  Cell :  09869485455, dnvermau@gmail.com
34. H B Charna,  A concerned citizen, Mumbai,  h.charna@growel.com.
35. Samir Pradhan, RTI activist, Thane, Cell:  09004593784,  rtisamir@gmail.com.
36. Cynthia Fernandes, Bandra W, Mumbai 50, Activist,  Cell :  09867075044 cynthiaqueenie@hotmail.com.
37. Navin H Pandya, Malad, Mumbai,  Senior activist,  proactive-democracy@hotmail.com.
38. Vasant patil, Kandivali E, Mumbai – 400101, Engineering Consultant,  serve611@gmail.com.
39. Milind Kotak, Dadar, Mumbai, Activist, Cell :  09820643510,  featindia@gmail.com
40. Binoy J Vallarian, Borivali, Mumbai, Service, Cell :  09029004050,  binoy47@hotmail.com.
41. Manohar Sabnis, Advisor, Ghatkopar, Mumbai,  Cell: 09819016816, manohar8888@yahoo.co.in
42. Manish Modi, Vile Parle, Mumbai, Businessman, Cell: 09821438180,  mmodi68@gmail.com
43. Rajendra J Thacker, Borivali West, Businessman, Cell: 09224427969, rjthacker57@gmail.com
44. Smita R Gaglani, A concerned citizen, Khar West, Mumbai, Cell : 0914651897, smitag61@gmail.com
45. Prashant Uikey, Mulund, Mumbai, Service, Cell: 09821936000,  prashant.vikey@gmail.com
46. Subhash Baswekar, Pune, RTI activist, Cell : 9223516920, mediamansubhash@gmail.com
47. Reggie Dias, Santa-Cruz (E), Mumbai, reggiepeterdias@gmail.com, 9869384304
48. Chinmayi Mehta, Bandra West, Mumbai, Business chinmayim@gmail.com
49. Bhushan Pandurang Malgaonkar, Wadala, Advocate, 9820866206 malgaonkarbhushanp@gmail.com
50.  Rajeev Krishnan, Hanuman Nagar Kalyan (E), Self-Employed kw.rajeev@gmail.com

Copies endorsed to:        

1.       Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh

2.       UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi

3.       Home Minister of Maharashtra R R Patil

4.       Director General of Police, Maharashtra

5.       Principal Secretary, Urban Development Deptt, Mantralaya,

6.       Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, Mantralaya

7.       Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Subodh Kumar

8.       Thane Municipal Commissioner R A Rajeev

9.       Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Vijay Shantilal Nahata

10.   CIDCO Chairman Pramod Hindurao

11.    MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Rahul Asthana

 

Copies to office bearers of Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI)

President	1.       Paras Gundecha, Gundecha Group
Immediate Past President	Sunil Mantri, Sunil Mantri Realty Ltd.
President-elect	Vimal Shah, Hubtown Solaris
Vice Presidents	Dharmesh Jain, Nirmal Lifestyle Ltd Mayur Shah, Mayur Shah Builders & Developers Nayan Shah, Neptune House Deepak Goradia, Dosti Group
Hon. Secretary	8.      Boman Irani – President (MCHI Mira Virar City Unit)
Hon. Joint Secretaries	Rasesh Kanakia, Kanakia Spaces Pvt Ltd 10.   Harish Patel, Rajesh Builders Nainesh Shah – President (MCHI Thane Unit), Everest Developers Pvt Ltd
Treasurer	Ashok Mohanani, Ekta World
Jt. Treasurers	Mukesh Patel, Neelkanth Group L. P. Bhagtani
Co-ordinators	Sukhraj Nahar, Nahar Group Pujit Aggarwal, Orbit Corporation Sandeep Runwal, Runwal & Omkar Esquare
Committee Members	Sandeep Raheja, K. Raheja Constructions Bandish Ajmera (President - MCHI Kalyan-Dombivli Unit), Ajmera Realty & Infra India   Sujal Shroff, Vanguard Realty Pvt Ltd   Parag Munot, Kalpataru Ltd   Rajan Bandelkar, Raunaq Group   Vikas Walawalkar, Samarth Developer   Jayesh Shah, Shree Naman Group   Nayan Bheda, Neptune Group   Sanjay Chhabria, Wadhwa Group   Rajendra Chaturvedi, Shreepati Group
Invitee Member	Mukesh Mehta, MM Project Consultants Pvt Ltd   Rakesh Sanghvi, Sanghvi Group Of Companies   Jagdish Ahuja, Ahuja Group   Ajay Ashar (Secretary – MCHI Thane Unit), Ashar Group   Shrikant Shitole (Secretary – Kalyan-Dombivli Unit), Milestone Group   Shailesh Sanghvi (Secretary – Mira Virar City Unit), Sanghvi Group Of Companies   Rajesh Prajapati (President – Raigad Unit), Prajapati Constructions Ltd Suresh Haware (President – Navi Mumbai Unit), Haware Engineers & Builders
Past Presidents	Pravin Doshi, Acme Group of Companies   Mohan Deshmukh, Deshmukh Builders Pvt Ltd   Mofatraj Munot, Kalpataru Ltd   Niranjan Hiranandani, Hiranandani Developers Pvt. Ltd.   Rajni S. Ajmera, Ajmera Realty & Infra India Ltd   G. L. Raheja, K Raheja Group

 

 

Copies to office bearers of Builders Association of Navi Mumbai (BANM)

President	1.       M C Sunny, National Builders
Senior Vice President	Bhachubhai Patel,  Akshar Group
Vice President	Manish Bathija, Paradise Group
Secretary	Devang Trivedi,  Progressive Homes
Joint Secy	Dharmendra Karia, Choice Group
Treasurer	Hemant Lakhani, Classic Group
Jt. Treasurer	Nemchand Chheda, Chheda Group
Committee Members	Abdul Rahim Khatri, Crescent Construction Co   E. V. Thomas, EV Homes   Jayant Parikh, JP Builders   Mukesh Mathukiya, Devkrupa Enterprises   Govind Patel, Mahi Developers   Rasik Chauhan, Bhoomi Homes Pvt Ltd   Vasant Bhadra, Shirawala Estate Developers   Haresh Chheda, Shah & Chheda Group