BMC orders demolition of a marriage hall constructed illegally by Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Raut

IN an embarrassing incident for Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Raut, Assistant Enginner of BMC S ward has ordered demolition of a marriage hall constructed by Sunil Raut using his MLA fund. The structure is constructed at play ground of Datar Colony, Kanjur Marg (East). It was declared illegal by BMC S ward officials after Inspection.

On February 12, 2018 Manish Kotian, a local resident had complained to BMC that construction of a illegal structure is going on at Veer Sawarkar Marg, Datar Colony, infront of gate of Crompton company. One month before that, a social worker Sukhdev Dandge has also complained about the same structure to BMC. Officials of BMC S ward sat on both the complaints and did not take any action.

Manish Kotian, however was persistent in his follow up and met Assistant Commissioner of S Ward multiple times. He questioned him for allowing illegal marriage hall on children’s play ground. Assistant Commissioner checked the papers submitted by the contractor for constructing the marriage hall. It was clear from the letter issued by MHADA that fund was issued for beautification Garden at Datar colony and not for construction of marriage hall. Kanjur Co. Op. Housing society had been part of this illegal construction in collusion with local MLA Sunil Raut for personal financial gain.

After instructions from Assistant Commissioner, V T Wagh, Assistant Engineer at S Ward wrote to Kanjur Co. Op. Housing society to stop the construction work immediately. He also wrote to senior Inspector of Kanjur Marg Police station to drive out the persons doing the construction work at site and ensure that construction work does not resume. He also asked police to provide police force for undertaking demolition and initiate proceeding under MPDA Act if the related persons are habitually involved in illegal construction.

Till writing of this article, Kanjur Marg police had not implemented the instructions and illegal construction is still going on. Complainant Manish Kotian has said he will not remain quite till the illegal structure is demolished. He is also planning to file RTI and find out the details about other illegal construction carried out by Sunil Raut by using his MLA fund.

Sunil Raut has a reputation of bending the rules and land grabbing and encroachment illegally. There have been complaints on the past against him for forced illegal construction on someone else’s lands. There are pending court cases against him for such matters as well.