The Mumbai High Court said on Friday that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) action to demolish part of Kangana Ranaut’s bungalow smells of malafide and was done to cause substantial loss to the actor, and overturned the demolition order. The court also said that it does not approve of authorities using “muscle force” against any citizen.
A division bench of Justices SJ Kathawalla and RI Chagla noted that the action taken by the civic body leaves little “some form of doubt” that it was not authorized. The bank was listening to Ranaut’s petition challenging BMC’s demolition of his Pali Hill bungalow in the Bandra suburbs on September 9.
The civic body has proceeded to act unjustly and illegally against the rights of a citizen, “the bank said. Ranaut had requested two million rupees in damages from BMC and urged the court to declare BMC’s action illegal.
On the issue of compensation, the court said it was appointing an appraiser who would listen to the petitioner and BMC on the monetary damages caused by the demolition. “The appraiser will approve before March 2021 the corresponding orders on compensation,” the court said.
The civic body had opposed the statement, saying the actor had brazenly and illegally carried out extensive modifications and additions to the bungalow in violation of his approved plan. Ranaut had filed the petition on September 9 when BMC began the demolition process. The court had suspended the demolition work in a provisional order on 9 September.
When an individual opposes the government and wins, it is not the victory of the individual but the victory of democracy. Thanks to everyone who gave me courage and thanks to those who laughed at my broken dreams. It’s only because you play a villain so I can be a HERO. https://t.co/pYkO6OOcBr
– Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) November 27, 2020
In reaction to the court order, Kangana tweeted: “When an individual opposes the government and wins, it is not the victory of the individual but the victory of democracy. Thanks to everyone who gave me courage and thanks to those who laughed of my dreams. It’s just because you play a villain so that I can be a HERO. “
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