The Bombay High Court allowed Shiv Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officer Bhagyavant Late to file their replies to a plea filed by actor Kangana Ranaut after the civic body demolished her bungalow in Bandra.
Advocate Pradeep Thorat, for Mr. Raut, and senior advocate Anil Sakhare, appearing for Mr. Late, sought time before a Division Bench of justices SJ Kathawalla and RI Chagla to file their replies.
Mr. Thorat said he needed time to file an affidavit as Mr. Raut, being an MP, is in Delhi. The Bench, however, made a remark on the BMC seeking time to reply. “You need more time here but otherwise you are very fast [in demolishing],” it said.
While allowing them time to do so, the court said, “since 40% of the Petitioner’s [Ms. Ranaut] Bungalow is already demolished on 9th September, 2020 and the Bungalow continues to stand in partially demolished condition since then, it is likely that some mishap may be caused due to the heavy rainfall in Mumbai. It is therefore necessary to hear the matter at the earliest.”
The Bench thus directed senior advocate Birendra Saraf, representing the actor, to commence his arguments on September 25 at 3 p.m.
On September 9, the BMC undertook a drive to demolish the alleged illegal portions of Ms. Ranaut’s office. Soon thereafter, the court directed the BMC to stay the process of demolition.
A ‘stop work’ notice was issued by the BMC on September 8 under Section 354A of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act (power of Designated Officer to stop erection of building or work commenced or carried on unlawfully) was issued to Ms. Ranaut on September 8 pertaining to substantial alterations and additions carried out unlawfully.