It all started when Kangana Ranaut, through her tweets, compared Mumbai to Pakistan- occupied-Kashmir (PoK). Her remark drew the ire of the ruling party Shiv Sena which also controls the BMC. Following which, Kangana on September 4, openly challenged via this tweet, "I see many people are threatening me to not come back to Mumbai so I have now decided to travel to Mumbai this coming week on 9th September, I will post the time when I land at the Mumbai airport, kisi ke baap mein himmat hai toh rok le (stop me if you can). [sic]"
The BMC on Tuesday posted a stop-work notice at Kangana's bungalow at Pali Hill in suburban Bandra, claiming that during their regular inspection, the civic body found several illegal constructions and modifications that have been carried out without taking necessary approvals from them. BMC also filed a 'caveat' in a local court, saying it should be heard first if Ranaut challenges the stop-work notice issued to her. A caveat is a request to a court that no order should be passed without hearing the person/party which files it.
Kangana Ranaut along with her sister Rangoli Chandel boarded the Indigo flight 6E 264 from Chandigarh, which departed at 12.15 pm, and landed at Mumbai's Terminal 2 at around 2.45 pm.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had granted 'Y' category security to Kangana. Under the 'Y' category security, one Personal Security Officer (PSO) in three shifts travels with the protectee in India while five security personnel provide security at home. A total of eight commandos will provide round the clock security to Ranaut.
Meanwhile, a team of the BMC H-West Ward officers accompanied by a police posse reached Kangana's office with bulldozers, JCBs and other heavy equipment and took up the demolition work.
The BMC Executive Engineer said that he was satisfied that the (illegal) works were being demolished and that the actress had failed to produce the permissions/approvals/sanction for it as per BMC laws. "Therefore, the work carried out by you as mentioned in the notice schedule is declared as unauthorised," said the Executive Engineer.
The Executive Engineer also said that the ongoing work on the premises was not stopped and warned that it is "liable for forthwith demolition at your risk, cost and consequences". The notice also cautioned that the actress could face imprisonment of minimum one month up to one year besides penalties.
On the other hand, replying to the civic body's notice, Kangana's lawyer said, "No work was being carried out by Kangana Ranaut in her premises as falsely understood by you, so the notice issued by you as "Stop Work Notice" is absolutely bad-in-law and appears to have been issued only to intimidate her by misusing your dominant position."
In picture: The media and security personnel at the Mumbai airport.
Meanwhile, protesters had gathered at Mumbai airport's T2 since the morning, waiting for the actress to arrive. While Shiv Sena protesters gathered with black flags shouting slogans against the actress, there were members of the RPI and Karni Sena who shouted slogans in support of Kangana.
Shiv Sena protesters also brought placards written in Marathi decrying "dhikkar" (shame) to Kangana who, according to them, had insulted Mumbai. Shiv Sainiks could also be heard shouting, "Kangana Ranaut hai hai (down with Kangana Ranaut)".
Social distancing protocol was grossly violated by all protesters, who took off their masks and jostled together to shout slogans for or against the actress.
Security was tightened at Mumbai airport since the morning apprehending possible attack on the actress and to avoid any untoward incident. As reported by IANS, soon after the flight landed, Kangana, seated at a window seat beside her sister Rangoli reportedly switched on her phone and started checking photographs of her Bandra office being demolished by the BMC.
Kangana and Rangoli were escorted by security personnel from the flight to the aircraft staircase maintaining a safe distance with other passengers, and taken to the terminal in a blue airline taxi along with three bodyguards. The airline taxi was escorted by police cars from all sides.
In picture: Security outside Kangana Ranaut's house.
Even as this happened, Kangana and her sister Rangoli were secretly escorted from the airport through an undisclosed gate. They boarded a white car and left, surrounded by police vans. CISF personnel were present along with the CRPF and police personnel for the actress's security.
Amid speculations, whether Kangana would visit her partially demolished Bandra office first, the actress and her sister reached her Khar residence at around 3.15 pm. Security was tightened around the house as her car entered the building premises.
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