- Mumbai civic body started the demolition of alleged unauthorised construction at Rustomjee Crown in Mumbai
- 128 flats involved are linked to politicians, bureaucrats, and prominent businesspeople
- Complaint alleges owners merged common lift areas into flats, violating building rules
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has begun demolition action against alleged unauthorised construction at Rustomjee Crown, a luxury housing project in Mumbai.
The action covers 128 flats at the project in the Crown Mill Compound. Several of the flats are reportedly linked to Maharashtra politicians, bureaucrats and prominent businesspeople.
The case relates to common and open spaces around the building's lifts. A complaint alleged that some flat owners had merged these shared areas into their apartments, resulting in unauthorised construction.
The space is estimated to be worth more than Rs 250 crore. Property in the affected part of the building reportedly sells for more than Rs 1 lakh per square foot.
RTI activist Santosh Daundkar filed the complaint alleging that owners of the 128 flats had occupied common areas around the lifts in violation of building rules. The BMC's assistant commissioner for the G-South ward ordered action against the structures after the complaint was received.
Rustomjee Crown has three towers, each 63 storeys tall. Two of the three have received Occupancy Certificates from the BMC.
The flats reportedly covered by the action include one linked to Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Sanjay Rathod and his wife, Sheetal Rathod. Former state minister Deepak Kesarkar's flat is also reportedly among those covered; Kesarkar is said to pay Rs 4.20 lakh a month in rent for the apartment.
The flat of Samadhan Sarvankar, son of MLA Sada Sarvankar, has also reportedly been included in the action. Flats linked to senior bureaucrats and businesspeople are reportedly under scrutiny as well.
The BMC is proceeding against the structures it considers unauthorised.
