25 Aug 2025

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) recently carried out demolition drives in Airoli and Koparkhairane against unauthorized constructions that continued despite prior notices. Acting under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, the Encroachment Department removed illegal structures, imposed fines, and deployed manpower and equipment for the operations. The drives were conducted under the supervision of senior officials, with support from the local police. Authorities indicated that such anti-encroachment actions will continue more strictly going forward.Read more

25 Aug 2025

The Enforcement Directorate has initiated 22 PMLA investigations following the Supreme Court's directive to elevate CBI preliminary enquiries into formal probes, targeting a suspected scheme involving builders and banks that allegedly defrauded NCR homebuyers. Builders including Jaypee, Jaiprakash, Ajnara, Vatika, Supertech, and Idea Builders, as well as banks like SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Indiabulls, and others, are under scrutiny. The probe focuses on fraud, corruption, and money laundering, aims to retrieve illicit assets, and seeks restitution for buyers burdened with EMIs despite not receiving possession all based on extensive CBI groundwork across numerous individuals and construction sites.Read more

25 Aug 2025

NITI Aayog has proposed a single-window system for homestay registration and destination-focused financial incentives to strengthen India's homestay sector. Its report recommended simplifying registration requirements to only essential documents and establishing a central agency for coordination. It also called for collaborative marketing by states, destination-level promotion, and transparent regulations for safety and heritage protection. The report highlighted that the homestay market recorded INR 4,722 crore in 2024, with strong recovery after the pandemic. With experiential travel and domestic tourism gaining traction, homestays are positioned to play a larger role in India's tourism economy.Read more

24 Aug 2025

The Supreme Court has upheld a Kerala High Court order suspending toll collection for four weeks on the 65-km Ernakulam-Mannuthy stretch of NH-544, setting an important precedent for road accountability. Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran ruled that citizens cannot be forced to pay tolls amid traffic jams, poor service roads, and potholes, stressing that user fees must guarantee safe, unhindered access. The Court noted, "The toll is really on the purse and patience of the citizen." Rejecting NHAI's appeal, the judgment underscores a citizen-centric approach, tying toll rights directly to the quality of road services provided.Read more

24 Aug 2025

The Madras High Court has ordered a citywide audit of property tax assessments in Madurai following a public interest litigation (PIL) that has exposed a massive INR 200 crore property tax scam. The court has also directed the formation of special teams to verify the correctness of all assessments. This action comes, as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is already probing the scam, which allegedly involves the undervaluation of properties by officials, political figures, and the manipulation of the online tax system.Read more

24 Aug 2025

The Gujarat Real Estate Regulatory Authority (GujRERA) has appealed to the state Urban Development Department (UDD) for assistance in completing the halted World Trade Centre (WTC) project at GIFT City. The project, initiated in 2014-15, aimed to construct four towers; however, only two were completed before construction ceased. The project's promoter was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on charges of real estate fraud, leaving investors' funds locked. The association of allottees has expressed its inability to complete the project, prompting GujRERA's request for state intervention. This marks the first instance of GujRERA seeking such intervention for a stalled project.Read more

23 Aug 2025

In a lawsuit alleging data theft, the Delhi High Court has summoned the directors of real estate analytics firm Bhugol Analytics Private Limited (CRE Matrix) to respond to a plea by its rival, PE Analytics Limited (PropEquity). PropEquity claims that CRE Matrix stole its primary real estate data and unethically hired former employees in violation of their non-compete clauses. The firm, which has also filed a police complaint with the Gurugram cyber crime branch, is seeking a permanent injunction and INR 8 crore in damages for the alleged intellectual property theft.Read more

23 Aug 2025

The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered Parsvnath Developers to pay INR 5.5 lakh in compensation to a homebuyer for a significant delay in delivering a flat. The ruling, which references a Supreme Court precedent, highlights the developer's failure to meet its contractual obligations and holds it accountable for deficiency in service and unfair trade practices. The commission's decision not only awards compensation but also mandates the immediate handover of the flat.Read more

23 Aug 2025

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to suspend demolition drives and cease issuing notices regarding unauthorized constructions in North Mumbai until the conclusion of the Ganesh festival. The decision aims to alleviate public anxiety during the festive period. However, the minister emphasized that individuals involved in creating fraudulent construction documents would face strict legal action.Read more

22 Aug 2025

The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has reclaimed 16,000 sq yards of prime government land worth about INR 400 crore in Madhapur, near the Hitex arch. The land, encroached for over a decade, included parks and road areas from a 22.2-acre layout approved in 1995 and later regularized. Acting on citizen complaints via its Prajavani platform, HYDRAA cleared illegal structures, including a restaurant and hoardings, freeing two public parks, 5,000 sq yards of road, and additional government land. Fencing and signage have been installed to prevent re-encroachment, while a police case has been filed against the main offender.Read more