MHADA & Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna initiate inquiry against Pune developer

Maple Shelters got full-page ads printed with photos of PM Modi, CM Fadnavis and Pune guardian minister Girish Bapat to promote its Apla Ghar project

Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) and district administration has initiated separate inquiry into the controversial project Apla Ghar, an affordable housing project initiated by Pune based Maple Group.  

On April 14, Maple Shelters had published a full page advertisement in several newspapers announcing launch of its project, Apla Ghar scheme. In the advertisement the developers promised to sell the apartments at Rs 5 lakh. The advertisement sought a non-refundable fee of Rs 1,000 from the applicants. It also said that the project is eligible under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and for Rs 7.5 lakh to those who are out of its purview.  

The company in its advertisements carried pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Pune guardian minister Girish Bapat.

However, Bapat today clarified that he has never heard or met the builder nor was he associated with the project in any manner.

PMAY state mission director Nirmal Deshmukh has dashed off a letter to the Maharashtra Housing & Area Development Authority and the PMAY State Level Nodal Agency to "take appropriate legal and criminal action at once", against the developer, Maple Group Aapla Ghar, Pune.  It further said, " There is no scheme approved by the government as shown  in the advertisements. As such it is clear that the advertisement is misleading and fake information is being disseminated in the public."

The director has ordered the developer to withdraw the advertisement under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna and stop collecting money under the name 'document verification fee and flat booking amount. It also, asked the developer refund the money collected from the public under the name document verification fee.

State Housing Minister Prakash Mehta said the Maple Group's project "was not connected in any manner with the central or state governments" and ordered a probe.

Today,  Pune Police also issued a letter to the Maple Shelters, asking for documents of all the projects that have been advertised by the builder under the scheme of Maharashtra Housing Day. The police wanted to know how the builder has used photographs of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and district guardian minister Girish Bapat in his advertisement.

Attempts made to contact the promoters and Sachin Agarwal,  chairman & managing director, Maple Group were not successful.

In March 2015, Essel Finance Advisors and Managers (EFAM), the realty focused private equity investment arm of Essel Finance, has invested Rs 40 crore ($6.4 million) across three projects of Aapla Ghar. The deal has been sealed in the form of debt and the developer will use the money to gear up construction.