Ranjit Mahanti

ON the strict order of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the St Mary’s Malankara School in Sakinaka has finally shut down the lodge that was running within the school premises. The School Management had rented out part of the school premises which was operating as a lodge.

It was ABI (Akela Bureau of Investigation) that had first exposed the illegal activities going on in school premises.

On May 14, 2017 ABI (abinet.org) had published an article under headline, “School allows PROSTITUTION renting LODGE in School premises.” The news was based on RTI reply obtained by activist Vishal Khatedar. Vishal Khatedar (40) who stays in the school vicinity, was a witness of prostitution that was going on in school premises. Two people by the name of Mohammed Khalid Haji Kunhi and Nizamuddin TK were running the lodge.

The school St Mary’s Malankara High School is located at Pereira Wadi in Sakinaka. It had rented (14 rooms) its first floor to Galaxy Residency lodging and boarding. The school was charging Rs 2 lakh per month from lodge as rent. The lodge was on first floor and school on ground floor. There is no gate in school.

After news published on ABI the school trustee Koshi Varghese called Khatedar and told him that he is wasting his time and energy. Nothing will happen to the school as no one will dare to take action on school or lodging and boarding. Varghese advised him to sell his house to him and leave school vicinity.
“ABI par news publish hone ke baad trustee ne mujhe bulaya aur kaha ki tum apna ghar bechkar yahaan se kahin door chale jao kyonki kisi ki aukat nahin hai wo lodge band karwa sake ya school par action le,” said Khatedar.

Khatedar complained to several authorities and was continuously following the issue. On March 19, 2018 Sakinaka police wrote a letter (copy with ABI) to L ward, BMC to take action on illegal lodging and boarding in school premises. On April 16, 2018 BMC officer Nitin Patil inspected the spot and directed (copy with ABI) management of M/S Galaxy Residency lodging and boarding to discontinue the said trade immediately otherwise legal action will be initiated against them under sections 394 (i) (i) and 47 of MMC act without prior notice. Last month lodging and boarding was discontinued and converted to a school class room.

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Shakur Patel
Shakur Patel
5 years ago

Good job done
Now time to teach lesson to the school trustee