The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has launched a statewide verification of 2,600 Occupancy Certificates (OCs) uploaded by developers on its portal to prevent forgery and ensure authenticity.

This action follows the Dombivli scam involving 65 illegal buildings built using fake documents, displacing over 6,500 residents. MahaRERA is now cross-verifying OCs with respective planning authorities, checking for full or partial approvals to curb developer misrepresentation. So far, only 136 OCs have been verified. The process is delayed due to lack of integration between local authority websites and the MahaRERA portal—Mumbai is the only city with full integration. Developers must upload verified OCs before accessing project funds from escrow accounts. Authorities must verify within a set timeline, failing which the certificates are deemed valid but remain subject to future scrutiny. The move aims to boost buyer confidence, enhance transparency, and tighten regulatory compliance in Maharashtra’s real estate sector.