MahaRERA caps booking-cancellation forfeiture at 2%, orders refund in Pimpri-Chinchwad case

At The Central Park in Pimpri-Chinchwad (developer R Retail Ventures Pvt. Ltd.), a buyer paid Rs 5,86,197 toward a Rs 1.52 crore unit before cancelling prior to agreement execution. The developer attempted to forfeit the entire booking amount and resold the unit.

MahaRERA ruled that full forfeiture was “arbitrary” and “unconscionable,” capped the allowable deduction at 2% of the unit’s value (Rs 3.04 lakh), and ordered the developer to refund the remaining Rs 2,82,197 to the buyer.

The takeaway is a genuinely useful one that most buyers do not know: if you cancel a booking before signing the agreement, a builder generally cannot keep your whole deposit – the reasonable deduction is capped at around 2% of the unit’s value. Worth knowing before you book, and a reason to keep every payment receipt.

Sources: Punekar News (Aug 12, 2026)