Citizens who have rented out their properties in 2023 have to visit the nearest police stations for the tenant verification process, as a technical glitch has hit the online system for the work.
“The online tenant verification system, which was working fine till 2022, has been hit by some technical issues. The online rental agreements done this year could not be integrated with the police’s Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS) due to the snag. Under such circumstances, property owners, who have executed online rental agreements this year, must visit the nearest police stations for the tenant verification process,” deputy commissioner of police (Special Branch) R Raja on Thursday told TOI.
At the police station, the property owners are required to fill up and submit a form. A copy of that should be submitted to the respective society committee for their records as well. “In case of any suspicion or adverse information regarding any tenant, we can use this information for further investigation,” said Raja.
Back in July, the city police had asked housing societies in Hadapsar, Mundhwa and Kondhwa to mandatorily ensure that the police verification of the tenants was done and a record of that is maintained by the respective society committees. This came following the arrest of two terror suspects residing in a rented flat in Kondhwa for over a year.
A police notice issued to housing societies then read, “Every house owner must ensure police verification and submit the information about the tenant at the nearest police station or else they would have to face legal action under Section 188 of IPC. Also, if the society allows entry to such tenants without verification, then the society’s chairperson or secretary would have to face action. House owners who have done an online rent agreement have to submit a copy to the nearest police station for information.”
There was confusion among housing society committees and property owners in view of an earlier media statement by the police that those who opt for online rent agreement need not go for a separate police verification.
“On Wednesday, we had a commissionerate-level meeting wherein we issued these same instructions to all the senior inspectors. The aim was to ensure that there is no confusion among the housing societies as well as the police. Those not following the rule would face action under Section 188 of IPC. Housing societies can also take action under their byelaws, if required.” added Raja.
Vaibhav Mane, chairperson of Foundation of Housing Societies of South Hadapsar, said, “This a good thing since it clears the confusion between house owners and housing societies. The only thing remaining now is that the local police stations should make it easier for people to get the forms and submit the information about the tenants so that people do not have to wait for hours at the police station for such minor work.”
