Mumbai: Following revelations that the shooters involved in the Baba Siddique case had rented a house in Kurla to discreetly plan the assassination, the Tilak Nagar police in Chembur launched a door-to-door checking drive across its jurisdiction to identify any criminal element or activity. Nearly 10 first information reports (FIRs) have since been filed against landlords for failing to comply with legally mandatory tenant verification procedures, which require landlords to submit tenant details, including proof of identity and rental contracts, to the local police.

Following the revelation that the shooters in the Baba Siddique case had rented a house in Kurla to discreetly plan the assassination, the Tilak Nagar police in Chembur launched a door-to-door checking drive across its jurisdiction to identify any criminal element or activity. Nearly 10 first information reports (FIRs) have since been filed against landlords for failing to comply with legally mandatory tenant verification procedures, which require landlords to submit tenant details, including proof of identity and rental contracts, to the local police.

In 2008, amid the Mumbai terrorist attacks, the Bombay High Court issued guidelines requiring tenant verification to address growing concerns about crime and terrorist activities in urban areas, emphasizing more surveillance strict rules on rented accommodation. As part of this process, landlords are required to collect documents such as Aadhaar cards, PAN cards or passports from tenants, along with their contact details. These details must be submitted to the local police station, in person or online, for verification. The mandate applies to both short-term and long-term tenants. Failure to comply can result in fines or legal action against owners, a rule now actively enforced by the Tilak Nagar police station.

In the case of Siddiqui’s murder, Mumbai police revealed that the shooters had rented a property to avoid detection while coordinating their actions. It is suspected that they used false identities or intermediaries to secure the rental. Following this revelation, police officials opened a separate investigation to identify individuals who may have facilitated the shooters’ stay or neglected tenant screening procedures. The investigation is ongoing.

“Tenant verification is of great importance to avoid such security lapses,” said Sandip Pawar, PSI and member of the Anti-Terrorism Cell (ATC) of Tilak Nagar police station. “So far, nearly 10 FIRs have been registered against landowners and landlords. » Most of the reserved landlords had rented out their flats to unknown tenants in areas such as Amar Junction, PL Lokande Marg, Ramabai Colony and Amir Baug, all in Chembur area.

“This practice is not limited to slums: it extends to apartments and buildings where, deliberately or through negligence, owners do not follow the rules,” Pawar explained. “Unlike before, where owners had to physically present the documents to the police station, the procedure can now be completed online with just a few clicks. Tenant screening is crucial for safety and security, including preventing unwanted activities.

According to police officials, in the 10 FIRs, they arrested landlords – and in some cases, even tenants – who did not have proper identification documents. No arrests have been made in these cases, which were filed under section 223 (disobedience to orders duly promulgated by public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. In lieu of arrest, notices are issued to the accused under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which has recently replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). This section requires the police to issue a notice directing the accused to appear before them if arrest is not necessary. “Within the next two days, after interrogation and recording of statements, we proceed with the indictment, which is then submitted to the court. The court generally decides whether the accused will face punishment, fine or both,” explained Pawar.

How to do tenant screening:

Go to Mumbai Police website
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