15 more days to remove unauthorised work at BJP leader Narayan Rane’s Juhu bungalow

The previous notice mentions that there were unauthorised changes on all floors, barring the 7th floor, of the 8-storey Adhish bungalow. Pic/Suresh Karkera

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a fresh notice to the bungalow of union minister Narayan Rane, giving 15 more days to remove the unauthorised works in his bungalow at Juhu. The notice mentioned that the owner failed to remain present at a meeting and the reply from his representative didn't have sufficient documentary evidence. In the earlier notice of March 4, BMC had mentioned that there were unauthorised changes on all floors, barring the 7th floor, of the 8-storey Adhish bungalow.

Narayan Rane

The notice for unauthorised construction was sent on March 11 by the designated officer of K west ward to the owner, as well as director of M/s Artline Properties Pvt. Ltd. Neelam Narayan Rane and Nilesh Narayan Rane are the directors of M/s Artline properties. Nilesh Rane remained unavailable for comment. The notice mentioned that BMC received the six-page reply dated March 3 from the owner/occupier of Adhish bungalow, but it was not accompanied by any other documents.

The notice stated, ‘It can be seen that you have no explanation for the illegalities mentioned in the notice and you have failed to show any authorisation/permission/sanctioned plans in support of the said illegalities. In view of above, I have come to the conclusion that as mentioned in the notice the construction carried out by you is totally illegal, unauthorised and liable for demolition. You are hereby directed to remove the said unauthorised works as mentioned in the above-referred notice within 15 days failing which the unauthorised works mentioned in the notice will be demolished departmentally at your risk and cost. (SIC)' On February 17, the BMC had sent a notice to the owner of Adhish under Section 68 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888.

‘BMC is legally confused'

Former IPS officer, advocate Y P Singh said, "The BMC is legally confused. The entire layout, from which a hotel and the bungalow of Narayan Rane emerged, is illegal. In the process, the layout garden was gobbled up. Unless the layout itself is declared illegal, the hotel and the bungalow of Rane are demolished and the garden restored, there will be scope for the law violators to wriggle out of the issue through the mechanism of regularisation. But the problem is that BMC themselves had approved the illegal layout without permission from the coastal authorities. Unless the legal issues are made clear, such notices will lead to nothing. It is simply a political game."