C
alifornia Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a complaint against Swaranjit "Mike" Nijjar and his family, alleging they have exploited the state's affordable housing shortage by renting out unsafe and uninhabitable units. The Nijjar clan controls over 22,000 units through PAMA Management in Los Angeles and surrounding counties, primarily rented to low-income tenants.

    The complaint alleges that the defendants profited from their business while leaving tenants with deplorable conditions, including collapsed ceilings, sewage backups, and rodent infestations. Bonta's investigation found that PAMA Management exploited vulnerable families by failing to invest in necessary repairs and deceiving tenants about their rights.

    Bonta seeks full restitution for financial harm to tenants and additional penalties. The defendants have been accused of treating lawsuits and code violations as a cost of doing business, collecting hundreds of millions of dollars annually from families living in unhealthy conditions.

    Nijjar's attorney denies the allegations, stating they are false and misleading, and that his companies provide an essential service to housing disadvantaged individuals.