Mumbai: The government will look into the delays in demolition of illegal portions of a popular eatery at Bandra having alleged links to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
Minister for Home Ranjit Patil told the Assembly on Tuesday that a probe will be conducted to find out why there was a purported delay in bringing down the illegal portions of Wok Express. “While the illegal construction has now been brought down, the unauthorised portions were intact under the nose of officials connected to the CMO,” said Congress MLA Sunil Kedar during the Question Hour.
The restaurant is being run by Spice and Grains Overseas, on which one Piyush Bongirwar is a director. Mr. Bongirwar is the brother-in-law of Praveen Pardeshi, principal secretary to the Chief Minister.
The Opposition wanted to know if the State is to probe who was responsible for granting a stay to the demolition. “Will any action be taken against the IAS officer involved in this matter,” asked Mr. Kedar.
In his response, Mr. Patil said the government has already filed an affidavit in court explaining its stand on the issue. He admitted there was no order given to the MMRDA for a stay, but still a probe will be conducted why there was a delay in the demolition.
Speaker Haribhau Bhagde demanded to know why the question was even admitted when the matter is pending before court.
The restaurant was in news last year when an activist found under the Right to Information Act that Mr. Patil had allegedly stayed the demolition of the illegal portions of the restaurant.
The MMRDA had issued notices to the company for illegal construction. The company then approached Mr. Patil requesting a stay. RTI activist Pravin Wategaonkar alleged that Mr. Patil immediately granted a stay even though there was no provision under the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act.