AAI demolition notice led Haresh Ravani into depression

SURAT: Family members of Haresh Ravani, who allegedly committed suicide on Monday, informed police that he had slipped into depression after this construction firm had received notice to demolish top three floors in two under-construction buildings which are taller than 10 storeys.
The notice was served by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to several other construction projects in Vesu that fall in flight path of aircrafts.
Ravani’s firm Ravani Developer was constructing seven towers in the project Ravani Antlia Dream opposite Agarwal Vidhya Vihar School in Vesu. After successful project in Pal, Ravani and his partner family members and friends invested in this project anticipating huge profits since the Vesu Canal Road is a promising upmarket area currently under development.
“The firm had planned to develop seven towers of 16 storeys in 2016 and applied for approval from Surat Municipal Corporation and AAI. However, they received permission for 10 storeys only. This because of big cause of worry for Ravani,” his wife Rekha and brother Vinod told police in their statements.
Meanwhile, construction of two towers had already started and one was constructed up to 13 storeys while another up to 12 storeys.
AAI started serving notices to the buildings that are obstructing flight path in 2018. “During the same time, Ravani slipped into depression and later started taking treatment as well,” said a family member.
“The notices were again served recently after which the developers were forced to demolish the top few floors. The demolition at Ravani’s project is also underway,” said a police officer.
Each floor has two flats and each is priced at around Rs two crore. Being a high-end luxurious project, Ravani is believed to have borrowed money from private financiers as well. Police are yet to examine the call data record and take statements of all his business associates.