MNS activists protest realty firm selling low-cost houses

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists today demonstrated in front of the office of a city-based developer firm which "fraudulently" advertised about one bedroom flats for Rs five lakh each as part of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna.
The activists entered the corporate office of Maple at Shivajinagar and stopped the booking for the low-cost flats which were still going on despite the government ordering a probe into the company's scheme.
"The MNS workers led by Ajay Shinde raised slogans at Maple's office and tore the posters of the scheme. None of the activists have been arrested," an official at the city police control room said.

The advertisement, which was published last week, carried the photographs of the Prime Minster, the Maharashtra Chief Minister and Guardian Minister of Pune Girish Bapat.
The dream budget flats, promised to be built on the outskirts of Pune, attracted a large number of people who thronged the offices of the developer firm for enrollment by depositing a non-refundable amount of Rs 1,145.
Maharashtra state director of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna Nirmalkumar Deshmukh has directed MHADA to initiate action against the firm for misrepresenting the project as part of the government-approved low-cost housing scheme.
Bapat, who ordered a collector level inquiry into the episode, has dissociated himself from the firm saying that his photograph and name was published by Maple without his consent.