Mumbai: The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has ordered recovery of nearly Rs 90 crore from Honest Shelters Pvt Ltd, the current promoters of the Palais Royale project in Worli, for failing to comply with earlier directives regarding delayed possession of flats. The action follows an execution application filed by IIFL Finance Ltd, which had complained of non-compliance with a January 16 order.

MahaRERA’s adjudicating officer, Ashok Alaspurkar, issued four separate orders directing warrants for recovery of interest payments related to four flats in the project. In addition, recovery orders were also passed for three more flats belonging to IIFL Finance. Collectively, the warrants account for about Rs 90 crore in dues,The orders were issued on different dates, including July 27, July 28 and August 4.

The January 16 order had directed Honest Shelters to hand over possession of IIFL’s flats in the Palais Royale project, pay interest for the delay, and complete pending construction. The order also instructed the official liquidator to hand over flats in his custody to the promoter to ensure completion. However, IIFL Finance reported non-compliance on March 21 and later sought enforcement through MahaRERA, which has now resulted in the latest recovery orders.

Palais Royale, once touted as India’s first super-luxury residential skyscraper, has faced repeated legal, financial and construction setbacks over the years. The towering project, a prominent part of Mumbai’s luxury real estate landscape in Worli, has been mired in disputes, leaving buyers and financiers caught in uncertainty.

With MahaRERA’s latest directives, warrants for recovery empower authorities to initiate proceedings similar to revenue recovery, compelling promoters to meet their obligations. For IIFL Finance, this step secures a path to claim pending interest dues on delayed possession.

For now, Honest Shelters faces mounting scrutiny as enforcement measures move forward, with the fate of the beleaguered Palais Royale project again under the spotlight.

Mumbai: A special POCSO court in Dindoshi sentenced a 50-year-old Malad businessman, who owns an imitation jewellery factory, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for repeatedly sexually assaulting a minor girl from April 2021 to February 2023 on the promise of marriage.

Observation Made By The Court

The Dindoshi court, while convicting the businessman, held that, “it is indigestible that a married man who at the relevant time, which is, from 2021 to 2023, was the father of four children, still enticed the victim expressing his desire to marry with her. This itself goes to show that the accused not only had a culpable mental state of mind but also the accused committed the offence of rape, not on one occasion but repeatedly.”

The court noted that the accused exploited the victim’s minority and her family’s status as his tenants, with her mother working in his factory. “The victim was influenced by the accused to marry her once she attained majority. The innocence of the victim reflects from her understanding that she had no idea about the consequences that the accused is quite older than her, he is already married and has four children,” the court added, noting the victim’s lack of maturity and understanding of reality.

In a separate case, a Thane sessions court sentenced a 35-year-old man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, with a Rs 10,000 fine, for raping his 10-year-old stepdaughter in April 2019, along with a one-year sentence under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and a Rs 1,000 fine.

Mumbai: The ‘maximum city’ is experiencing intense rainfall from the night of August 15 into the early hours of August 16, marking one of the heaviest monsoon spells this season.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that rainfall exceeded 200mm in several regions, with Vikhroli receiving the highest at 248.5 mm, followed by Santacruz with 232.5 mm and Sion at 221 mm.

Other areas such as Juhu, Bandra, and Byculla also recorded significant amounts. Civic authorities compiled rainfall data showing averages of 99.61 mm in the city division, 142.80 mm in eastern suburbs, and 144.57 mm in western suburbs between 8 am on August 15 and 4 am on August 16. Some areas experienced extreme rainfall intensity, with Ghatkopar’s Ramabai Municipal School recording 49 mm in just one hour.

Visuals: Waterlogging In City

Despite the heavy downpour, Mumbai’s suburban train services remained largely operational with minimal delays, and road traffic disruptions were manageable, although waterlogging affected low-lying areas like Sion and Andheri.

The Mumbai police advised residents to avoid non-essential travel due to waterlogging and poor visibility, ensuring citizens could reach emergency services if needed. With more rain expected, officials warned residents, particularly in flood-prone zones, to remain vigilant as the city prepared for ongoing wet weather conditions.

IMD Issues Red Alert

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Ratnagiri, Raigad, Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, and Palghar, forecasting moderate to intense rain for the next three to four hours. Heavy rainfall led to severe waterlogging in parts of Mumbai, notably Gandhi Nagar, Kings Circle, and Sion Railway Station.

Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani directed BMC officials to coordinate emergency measures. A landslide in Vikhroli resulted in two fatalities and two injuries. In Himachal Pradesh, the monsoon death toll has reached 257, with 133 rain-related deaths. Many roads remain blocked, and numerous electricity and water supply services are disrupted due to weather conditions.