Bombay HC orders Rane’s bungalow partially razed

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to demolish the unauthorized construction at Union Minister Narayan Rane’s bungalow in Juhu area here.
A division bench of Justices R D Dhanuka and Kamal Khata gave the direction in response to a notice issued by BMC against Rane’s residence over alleged illegal construction and alterations.
Rane had challenged the notice in the High Court and denied the allegations against him.
The notice was issued under Section 351 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act for alleged unauthorized change of use in contravention to the plan approved by the civic body.
After going through the records, the bench dismissed Rane’s plea and directed the BMC not to consider and allow the second application filed by a company run by the Rane family seeking regularization of the unauthorized construction as it would encourage “wholesale unauthorized constructions”.
The bench held that the unauthorized construction violated the Floor Space Index (FSI) and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules. (UNI)