Mumbai: BMC Demolishes Kangana’s Pali Hill Office, Says Construction Was Illegal

Shikha Chaurasia

Mumbai, September 9, 2020: Amidst a war of words between the actor Kangana Ranaut and the Shiv Sena, the Sena ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished her office today. The BMC had issued a notice to the actor citing illegal construction and structural violations under Section 354A of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act, 1888.

The BMC warned her to reply to the notice within a time frame of 24 hours as per the act and informed her if they don’t receive a reply from her, action will be initiated.

Ranaut with the help of her lawyer replied to the notice requesting for a time period of seven days which the BMC thought was not satisfactory and decided to take action.

What are the violations cited by the BMC?

The notice issued by the BMC has cited 14 violations at Ranaut’s Pali Hill property. According to the BMC, any kind of structural plan change other than the one cleared by the civic body can lead to legal consequences.

The actor has been charged with-

1. Converting a toilet into an office cabin.

2. Adding a wooden partition in the living room.

3. An illegal pantry construction on the ground floor.

4. A kitchen constructed in the storeroom.

5. Changes in staircase orientation.

6. Change in position of the main gate.

7. Change in the plan of the balcony enclosure.

Section 354A of the BMC gives them the power to take befitting action within 24 hours under the cited regulations if they don’t receive a satisfactory reply.

Hence, the BMC demolished her office and said that they may take further legal action and could even charge a penalty. Ranaut has moved the court against the action taken by the BMC. She has also said that Mumbai now feels like PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) when the BMC was demolishing her office.

The Bombay High Court has begun the hearing of Ranaut’s plea and has ordered a halt on the demolition of her Mumbai home. 

My office was suddenly declared illegal in last 24 hours, they have destroyed everything inside including furniture and lights and now I am getting threats they will come to my house and break it as well,I am glad my judgement of movie mafia’s favourite world’s best CM was right. https://t.co/mMGbFeRztI

— Kangana Ranaut (Modi Ka Parivar) (@KanganaTeam) September 9, 2020

“Come Udhav Thakeray and Karan Johar Gang you broke my work place come now break my house then break my face and body, I want world to see clearly what you anyway do underhand, whether I live or die I will expose you regardless. Today they have demolished my house tomorrow it will be yours, governments come and go when you normalise violent suppression of a voice it becomes the norm, today one person being burned at the stake tomorrow it will be jowhar of thousands,wake up now”, Kangana said.