Clara Lewis (THE TIMES OF INDIA; September 8, 2020)

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena-controlled municipal corporation carried out an inspection of Kangana Ranaut’s office on Pali Hill on Monday for alleged civic violations. The action followed on a day when the actor received Y-plus grade security cover from the Centre following a spat involving her and ruling parties in Maharashtra.

Immediately after BMC officers arrived at her office, Kangana tweeted: They have forcefully taken over my office measuring everything, also harassing my neighbors…” She said BMC warned her neighbours that they would have to bear the consequences of her actions. “I am informed tomorrow they are demolishing my property,” she said.

She also posted a video of the team inspecting her office and an earlier video of the place. The office was a row house which has been converted into a commercial establishment.

In a second tweet, she said: “I have all the papers, BMC permissions, nothing has been done illegal...BMC should send a structure plan to show the illegal construction with a notice, today they raided my place and without any notice tomorrow they demolishing (sic) entire structure.”

A neighbour said eight BMC staffers inspected the rowhouses. “One of them had only women, who did not allow them in. We have not been issued any notice. They inspected and left,” said a neighbour.

Another neighbour said he allowed the BMC staff in as he thought they had come to inspect the leakage in his house. “They were polite and were here for only 10 minutes,” he said.

A third neighbour said the fifth rowhouse is owned by Ranaut while the sixth comprises three shops on the ground floor and an office on the first floor. “These rowhouses have been around 45-50 years. Kangana had repaired her rowhouse around a couple of years ago as have the others,” he said.

BMC refused to comment. Municipal commissioner Iqbal Chahal and H-West ward officer Vinayak Vispute did not respond to queries.

Meanwhile, residents of DeBreeze on 16th Road, Khar are a worried lot. Kangana is a resident of the building and in January this year, BMC had filed a complaint against Kangana and other residents at the Dindoshi sessions court for illegal extensions. Sources said on Monday, civic officials asked the session court for an urgent hearing. “BMC has been told that the matter will be heard by the regular judge on September 9,” said sources. Kangana has already declared she will be coming to Mumbai on that day and has dared anyone to stop her.

Kangana’s outburst against Mumbai Police saying she feared the force and describing the city to be as dangerous as “PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir)” had led to sharp criticism from Sena, Congress and NCP. Even the state BJP has said they do not support her statements.
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; September 8, 2020)

A team of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials visited Kangana’s office at Pali Hill, Bandra, yesterday, along with other properties in close vicinity, and have apparently warned residents and property owners they may demolish illegal constructions found on the premises today. Some residents reached out to Kangana’s sister Rangoli, who’s in Manali with the actress, to inform her about the developments.

Kangana, who is expected to return to Mumbai tomorrow, told us, “All work has been done with the BMC’s permission. This was their second visit, and they haven’t given notice or any plan.”

The cluster of row houses also includes properties that belong to designers Surily Goel and Manish Malhotra. While Goel said she’s not aware of any such development, Malhotra stated he’s busy with a professional commitment and has no idea about this. We reached out to the BMC officials, but they didn’t respond till the time of going to press.