BMC’s conduct was “malafide” and “deplorable”: Bombay High Court
MUMBAI: Actor Kangana Ranaut scored a big win against Mumbai’s civic body BMC today with the Bombay High Court staying the demolition at her office.
The Bombay High Court today stayed the demolition of structures at actor Kangana Ranaut’s office in Mumbai by the city’s civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, (BMC) and said their conduct was “malafide” and “deplorable”.
The court also served notice to the BMC, which is controlled by the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. BMC, had listed 14 “violations” at her office, which included a toilet apparently built in space marked for a kitchen and an office set up in an area meant for a toilet. 
The court said the BMC’s conduct was “malafide” and “deplorable”. Ms Ranaut, who returned to Mumbai today from Manali after months, is in the middle of a huge row with the Shiv Sena over her “Mumbai feels like PoK” comments and alleges she is being targeted by the Maharashtra government because of her fight with the Sena, which also controls the BMC.
Following are the 5 big quotes from today’s verdict in favour of Kangana Ranaut:
All of a sudden the BMC appears to have overnight woken up from its slumber, issued notice to the petitioner, that too when she is out of state, directing her to respond within 24 hours, and not granting her any further time, despite written request, and proceeding to demolish the premises upon completion of 24 hours.
The manner in which the BMC proceeded to commence demolition work prima facie does not appear to be bonafide and smacks of malafide.
We cannot help but mention here that if the BMC would act with similar swiftness qua the numerous unauthorised constructions in this City, the City would be a completely different place to live in.
The civic body was trying to waste the time of the court and in the meantime complete the demolition.
We find the conduct of the BMC highly deplorable, more so since the BMC was well aware that a petition would be filed by the petitioner before this court at any time, and an application seeking urgent orders will be moved.
The sketch/drawing in the BMC’s stop-work notice was extremely unclear and the unauthorized works cannot be seen at all.
Meanwhile, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar said that the Mumbai civic body’s demolition drive has given “unnecessary publicity” to Kangana Ranaut who is engaged in an escalating row with the Maharashtra government over her “Mumbai feels like PoK” remark.Pawar’s NCP is part of the ruling alliance with the Shiv Sena.
The senior politician suggested that though the BMC acted “as per rules”, the timing of the demolition drive had sent out a wrong message to the public.
“Illegal constructions not a new thing in Mumbai. But acting upon it at the backdrop of the ongoing controversy, gives rise to questions. But BMC has their own reasons and rules and they acted as per them” the NCP chief said.
(Mumbai Bureau with Agency Inputs ).
