Mumbai: After 4 Months of Harassment, Mulund Techie Finally Gets His Car And Bike Back
Mumbai: After 4 Months of Harassment, Mulund Techie Finally Gets His Car And Bike Back
Vehicles were clamped illegally, claims owner; registrar steps in and dismisses committee
A software engineer from Mulund West has finally regained possession of his car and bike after a four-month standoff with his housing society, which had clamped and held the vehicles over an internal parking dispute. The matter came to an end only after the registrar of co-operative societies intervened, dismissed the society’s management committee for irregularities and appointed an administrator to take control.
Sachin Kapure, a resident of the Lok-Nisarg Society, said the issue began on July 6 when the committee clamped both his car and bike. The society has also sent him a detailed maintenance bill, which includes a parking fine of Rs 31,000 and a jammer fine of Rs 6000. He repeatedly approached the local police station seeking help, but said no action was taken to release his vehicles. Frustrated with the inaction, he eventually broke the clamps himself and moved the vehicles after informing the appointed administrator.
Kapure said, “For months, I kept visiting the police station, but they never helped me. The society had no right to clamp my car or bike, only the traffic police are authorised to do that. My vehicles were damaged because they were held for so long. I am glad the registrar finally stepped in and dismissed the committee.”
According to a media report, Kapure had been managing his household responsibilities despite the vehicles being unusable. He said that even when he tried raising the matter at society meetings, it did not lead to any resolution. The society had reportedly installed wheel-lock clamps (referred to locally as ‘jammer’) to immobilise his vehicle, a move he argued was completely outside the committee’s powers.
In his statement, Kapure added, “Hopefully, neither of my vehicles is damaged. Though they were clamped, I used to start them using my keys. I am thankful to the administrator and registrar for their help. The police should register an FIR against those responsible for illegally clamping my vehicles.”
Residents familiar with the issue said that the dispute continued for over 30 days before escalating. The housing society committee had allegedly asked Kapure to follow certain parking changes, but he maintained that their actions were arbitrary and lacked proper legal backing. The conflict intensified when the committee reportedly warned him and continued to restrict access to his own parking space.
The registrar’s inquiry highlighted multiple procedural lapses in the society’s functioning, after which the committee was relieved of its duties. Once the administrator took charge, Kapure approached him and received help in freeing his car and bike from the clamps.
With the committee dissolved and the clamps finally removed, residents of the 220-flat Lok-Nisarg Society hope for a more transparent and lawful administration under the newly appointed administrator.
The matter has renewed discussions about the extent of authority that housing societies can exercise over members. As per co-operative housing laws, societies can frame parking rules but cannot seize or clamp private vehicles that power rests solely with authorised government agencies such as the traffic police.
For residents of large housing complexes, the case also serves as a reminder of how unresolved internal disputes can grow into serious conflicts when committees exceed their jurisdiction. Many have expressed relief that the intervention helped close the matter before it escalated further.
