BMC razes house of accused; Lodha’s office claims minister gave instruction | Mumbai News

An announcement issued by Lodha’s workplace after his go to to the affected households learn, “Minister Lodha understood the entire matter and gave directions to demolish the unauthorised constructions in the home of the goon who carried out lethal assaults on the Hindu households. As per the instruction of minister Lodha, the BMC has demolished the unauthorised development and solely the bottom ground of this constructing is left.”

Nonetheless, when contacted, the BMC official from the native ward workplace mentioned the motion taken has no relation with the incident and the civic physique took motion on the unlawful constructions following their earlier notices. “The 2 flooring have been erected illegally and have been leased out to tenants. We had obtained a number of complaints in opposition to them earlier than and had additionally despatched them notices. We took motion as we speak and it was lengthy due. It doesn’t have any direct relation with the latest controversy,” mentioned a senior official from the civic ward workplace.

An FIR was filed by the Saki Naka police on March 15 on the grievance of Rajesh Veluswami, one of many victims. A senior officer on the Saki Naka police mentioned they subsequently arrested Khan and two others, Asgar and Javed, underneath related sections of try to homicide, assault and legal intimidation.

Khan, Godpade and the Chettiyars have been residing within the densely populated Jari Mari space within the western suburbs. Whereas Khan runs a cellular repairing store, the Chettiyars personal a poultry store.

Based on the FIR the incident happened on March 14 round 9.45 pm after an argument broke out between Khan and Rajesh (Chettiyar). The scuffle at night time adopted a tiff through the day when a tempo carrying Chettiyar’s provides was parked in entrance of Khan’s store. Whereas they met to resolve the difficulty at night time, a verbal spat broke out quickly after after which snowballed right into a scuffle throughout which Khan stabbed the members of the Chettiyar household together with Godpade.

The officer additionally mentioned that Khan has a number of complaints registered in opposition to him as he ceaselessly fought along with his neighbours.

Because the locals raised the difficulty with elected representatives the next day, Lodha visited the spot together with native MLA Dilip Lande.

Lande additionally took to Fb and wrote, “Native Hindu households have been attacked by some extremists in Jarimari, Sakinaka…. Went to the hospital and met the injured relations. Police and municipal officers ordered strict motion. Additionally testified that the sufferer’s household will get justice.”

On Wednesday, the BMC authorities initiated a demolition drive and pulled down the 2 high flooring of Khan’s residential construction. For the reason that home was positioned inside dingy lanes, the BMC carried out the demolition with guide staff.

When The Indian Categorical visited the spot on Wednesday, the demolition was underway with police pickets being put in place.

Locals mentioned the 2 events concerned within the incident didn’t have relationship. An area resident requesting anonymity mentioned, “Throughout Shivaji Jayanti, Khan wouldn’t permit the Chettiyars to erect pandals and he would usually minimize the ropes. In the meantime, that they had constructed a temple within the widespread space which they (Khan) used to contemplate as their courtyard. Because of these points usually there was once clashes between the households.”

One other resident mentioned, “The problem escalated after one of many neighbours tried politicising it, the scuffle broke out due over parking area and there was no communal angle to it. The neighbours used to combat every single day on trivial points like water provide and rubbish.”