Mumbai: On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court allowed Shiv Sena’s chief spokesman and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut to be added as part of the proceedings in Kangana Ranaut’s petition challenging the demolition of his office.
While listening to the petition filed by Kangana Ranaut, a division bench of Judge Shahrukh J Kathawalla and Judge Riyaz I Chagla had observed that since the actor presented a DVD with the statements made by Raut, he should have the opportunity to be heard, and also from the BMC officer. it must respond to the allegations made by the petitioner.
Referring to the DVD of Raut’s statement, Judge Kathawalla sought to know if she wanted Raut to be part of the statement. “Don’t you want to show the title ‘Ukhaad diya’ (from the DVD)? You will have to implement Raut, ”Judge Kathawalla told the actor.
His attorney sought time and was reluctant to make Mr. Raut a party in the case, saying that he would instead argue over BMC’s “malice in law” aspect. However, after the court insisted that Raut should be given the opportunity to be heard, defender Saraf agreed.
In reaction to this, Raut tweeted: “Case of an actress in Hon. The High Court deals with the demolition of an illegal structure by BMC, which is an independent body, and the demand is to make the deputy of RS Sanjay Raut be a party. From the Babri case to defending Marathi pride, I have faced several cases! This would not deter me from fighting for the pride of my city and my Maharashtra. “
The court sought to learn from the BMC how its 2012 policy circular was applied to the demolition at the actor’s office. The circular prescribes demolition at the expiration of the 24-hour notice period in case of danger to the life of the occupant or other persons. Given this, the court sought to know whose life was in danger, which motivated the civic entity to carry out partial demolition on September 9, after notifying Ranaut on September 8. The court also sought to know from the BMC if any action was taken in an adjoining bungalow occupied by fashion designer Manish Malhotra, after giving him seven days to respond to the notice.
In her rejoinder, Ranaut had alleged that BMC’s action against her was “partial” because she was only given 24 hours to respond to the civic body’s demolition notice, while her neighbor was given seven days.
Ranaut filed a rejoinder on Monday through lead attorney Birendra Saraf and attorney Rizwan Siddiquee. They claimed that BMC had abused “legal process” by starting demolition work on their office when they were only given 24 hours to respond to their notice, and their response was hastily rejected.
Parts of Ranaut’s Bandra office were razed on September 9, before the court suspended the demolition until further orders were issued. The Court also ordered the plaintiff to name Bhagyavant Late, a designated BMC H-West ward officer, who had filed the affidavit on behalf of BMC, as part of the case.
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