India, July 29 -- Calling it a "colossal misuse" of authority, the Bombay high court on Monday appointed a two-member committee to investigate a "racket" involving engineers from the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) illegally issuing 935 redevelopment notices to old buildings in prime locations in the city.

A division bench of justice GS Kulkarni and justice Arif Doctor ruled that Mhada's executive engineers had issued these notices without jurisdiction as they had vested interests in the properties, which are located in upmarket areas in south Mumbai, such as Banganga Road, Walkeshwar, Gamdevi Road, BG Kher Marg, and Nepean Sea Road.

The inquiry will be conducted by a two-member committee headed by justice (re...