Mumbai: 12 developers fined for publishing advertisement without RERA number; Levied a fine of INR 5.85 lakh

According to the RERA Act, a housing project cannot be advertised without MahaRERA registration. Meanwhile, publishing advertisements without RERA registration in violation of the provisions of the law has cost 12 developers dearly. MahaRERA has taken penal action against 12 developers and has collected a fine of INR 5.85 lakh. In this case, a fine ranging from INR 10 thousand to INR 1.5 lakh is levied.

As per rules, any project (including flats) exceeding 500 square metres or eight flats is mandatory to be registered with MahaRERA. So, no developer can advertise the project, register and sell the houses in the project without having the MahaRERA registration number. The law provides for strict action against violators of this rule. Despite this, MahaRERA has noticed that many developers are advertising housing projects and selling houses without RERA registration. MahaRERA has taken serious notice of this type and has started issuing show cause notices on its own (Suo Moto). So far, MahaRERA has sent such notices to 54 projects in the state. These developers were given seven days to present their case.

MahaRERA heard 15 projects responding to notices during this period and penalised 12 projects. It is clear that 11 of these developers have a RERA registration number but they have not printed it in the advertisement. While one was finally found to have printed the RERA number in small letters. A fine of INR 10 thousand has been imposed on this one developer. Among the 11 developers, one developer has been fined INR 1.5 lakh, seven developers have been fined INR 50,000 each and three developers have been fined INR 24,000 each. 

These developers have to pay the penalty amount within 15 days and those who do not pay this amount will have to pay an additional INR 1k per day for delay. Moreover, after 15 days, they will not be able to avail the services of MahaRERA until the fine is paid. Meanwhile, out of the 12 developers who have been prosecuted, five are from Nashik area, four from Aurangabad area, two from Pune and one from Mumbai.

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