Police undertake tenant checks to identify criminals

Following revelations that the shooters involved in the Baba Siddique murder case rented a house in Kurla to plan the assassination, the Tilak Nagar police in Chembur have launched a house-to-house verification drive across their jurisdiction to identify any criminal elements or activities.

- Aishwarya Iyer

Nearly 10 First Information Reports (FIRs) have since been filed against property owners for non-compliance with legally mandated tenant verification procedures, which require landlords to submit tenant details, including identity proofs and rental agreements, to local police.

In 2008, amid the Mumbai terrorist attacks, the Bombay High Court issued directives mandating tenant verification to address rising concerns about crime and terrorist activities in urban areas, emphasising stricter oversight on rented accommodations.

Under 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, either in person or online, for verification.