The Raigad collectorate on Friday started demolishing absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi’s sprawling seaside mansion in Kihim in Alibaug, with the administration saying that the bungalow was illegally built and flouted all environmental norms.
District Collector Vijay Suryawanshi issued the demolition orders after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) handed over the property situated in neighbouring Raigad district, over 90 kilometres from here, PTI quoted sources as saying.
Raigad Collector Suryawanshi said the bungalow was illegally built and flouted all environmental norms. “We have begun proceedings to demolish all 202 illegal bungalows in Alibaug and Murud tehsil,” he said.
The Bombay High Court had last month said that structures built by Nirav Modi should be demolished if they are illegal. The court was hearing a petition filed by Sambhuraje Yuvakranti, seeking directions to remove the unauthorised constructions carried out within the low tide and high tide area along Alibaug by “wealthy and law-breaking people” who reportedly presented themselves as agriculturists.
Last year, the state government wrote to Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had sealed the fugitive diamantaire’s bungalow, seeking permission to demolish the illegally-built property on Kihim beach.
Nirav Modi who is on the run after being named in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. He is among 202 bungalow owners who face the threat of their properties being demolished.
-With PTI
