MUMBAI, Sept. 3 -- Residents of Rustomjee Crown, the luxury residential project in Prabhadevi, have moved the Bombay High Court against the developer following the demolition of foyer areas in their apartments by the BMC last week. They have questioned how hundreds of homeowners could have independently committed the same alleged municipal violation when the spaces were sold, documented and fitted out as part of their homes by the developer. Around 140 flat owners, represented by 246 plaintiffs, are challenging the BMC action of August 24, which is scheduled to continue for a month. Rustomjee Crown comprises three high-rise buildings - Towers A, B and C - which have three-, four- and five-bedroom apartments. The complex has 372 apartment owners in Towers A and B, both 53-storey buildings with four flats per floor. The foyer configuration exists in nearly 95% of the apartments in Towers A and B. The BMC has issued notices to the first batch of 186 flats and has already demolished eight foyers in 5-BHK apartments. The 4-BHK apartments, measuring 2,000 sq ft, have foyers of 180-185 sq ft, while the 5-BHK apartments, measuring 2,800-3,000 sq ft, have foyers of nearly 550 sq ft. Residents claim they have not encroached on the foyer spaces. These were presented as exclusive areas attached to individual apartments by the developer, they said. The spaces appeared in Rustomjee's marketing material and apartment plans; they reflected separately in costing documents; and were incorporated into their registered sale agreements, they added. Residents say their documents describe the apartment area including a separate, private foyer area, with the net usable area calculated by adding the two. They claim the purchase consideration, stamp duty and registration charges were paid on the combined area. A resident of Tower A alleged that the sanctioned plan attached to her registered sale agreement differs from the sanctioned plan subsequently submitted by the developer to the BMC. "We have been duped by the builder," she said. Further supporting their argument, residents say the foyer floor is the same as that of the apartment but different from the common lobby floor. The areas are enclosed by doors that are the entrance to their flats; the foyer air-conditioning is connected to their individual apartments and residents pay electricity bills for them. Residents also point to the apartment costing sheet, which separately identifies the RERA carpet area, foyer area and net usable area before arriving at the apartment cost. They argue that this indicates the private foyer was expressly identified in the commercial documentation used for the sale. Residents note the BMC inspected Towers A and B before issuing occupation certificates (OC) in 2025 without objecting to the foyers. The issue reportedly surfaced when the developer applied for Tower C's OC, prompt BMC objections over excess FSI linked to common foyers, which the civic body then slated for demolition. According to residents, the builder initially promised to resolve the notice with the BMC, leading every flat owner to sign a letter of authority empowering Rustomjee representatives. Consequently, the developer allegedly collected subsequent BMC notices without notifying residents. In response, Rustomjee Group affirmed that the Prabhadevi project (Rustomjee Crown) was developed following sanctioned plans, legal regulations, and valid approvals, including the OC. Addressing recent legal action, a company spokesperson stated: "We have just been served with a copy of the suit instituted against certain parties in relation to matters concerning the project. The contents of the suit are presently being examined and Rustomjee is obtaining appropriate legal advice in relation thereto." The spokesperson maintained there was no non-compliance, adding that the proceedings appear misconceived. Citing ongoing court proceedings, the company declined to comment further on specific allegations, reaffirming complete confidence in the project's legal compliance and pledging to protect stakeholders' rights....