Stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma's bribe tweets against the BMC seems to have backfired, with the civic body claiming that the artist had flouted norms not only in his Versova office building but also in his apartment in suburban Goregaon.
"We received two complaints from separate people about illegal construction being done in Sharma's both premises, one in Versova and another in Goregaon. In both the cases, we followed the due procedure and first served notice before initiating action," said a senior BMC official, seeking anonymity.
"In the Versova case, the Corporation had served a notice on him on July 16. Since he did not pay heed to it, we demolished the illegal portion of his office structure on August 4. As far as another complaint is concerned, he was served notice under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act in April for unauthorised work on his 9th floor apartment at Goregaon (West)," he said.
Kapil had yesterday kicked up a row when he tweeted that BMC officers sought a bribe of Rs. 5 lakh for the construction of his premises in Versova. However, he has not so far, put forth his side on the allegations of violation of norms levelled by the civic body.
Asked why BMC took 19 days to demolish illegal structure at Versova, Parag Masurkar, Assistant Municipal Commissioner K-west ward, where Sharma's office is located, said "Generally we do give some extra time to the occupants or owners of the premises to put forward the copies or permissions to justify their work and wait for the reply. Meanwhile, we uploaded the contents and nature of the complaint at complaint tracking portal too."
"We have devised an online complaint tracking system. When we receive any complaints, we go to the site, take photographs and on that basis we generate the notices and upload it while monitoring it till it is redressed," said Masurkar, adding that the procedure wipes out all the chances of corruption.
"In Versova premises case, Sharma carried out unauthorised horizontal extension in his ground-plus-one storey row house and also carried out the construction at upper floor without mandatory permission.
"Since he did not come forward to show the copies of permissions, we followed the rule and demolished it as and when we got police security," he said.
RTI FILED AGAINST KAPIL SHARMA FOR DESTROYING MANGROVES
The complaint filed by RTI activist Asad Patel was registered in the Versova Police Station.
An RTI has been filed against comedian Kapil Sharma alleging that mangroves were destroyed during his office construction.
The complaint filed by RTI activist Asad Patel was registered in the Versova Police Station.
The police are currently investigating the matter.
Rajkumar Laxman A. Rajhans, advocate of Patel in the application said his client stated that no action has been taken against Kapil Sharma and his hirelings for illegal construction, encroachment, illegal eco-destruction, destroying and theft of mangorves and debris dumping.
“Hence it is submitted that immediately strict action be taken under Section 378 of Indian Penal Code, 1860, The Forest Act, 1927, Environment Protection Act 1986. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, as per directions of the Bombay High Court in conservation of mangroves matter, against Mr. Kapil Sharma and his hirelings by arresting them and the place may be seized, sealed immediately….” the application read.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had earlier on Friday threatened Sharma to prove bribe allegations against BMC officials or face action.
Kapil Sharma has claimed that he was asked to pay a bribe by a BMC official for his new office that is under construction.
BMC vigilance chief engineer Manohar Pawar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have both responded to Sharma and assured that they are looking into the matter.
Pawar asked Sharma to make a formal complaint and name the officer who demanded bribe from him and the Chief Minister responded to his tweet asking for the name.
BMC NOT A COMEDY STAGE, SHIV SENA TELLS KAPIL SHARMA
Lashing out at Kapil Sharma over his bribe allegations against Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, the Shiv Sena on Saturday hit back at the comedian, saying he was carrying an illegal construction and, therefore, an action should be initiated against him first and then after it should be seen whether he was asked for a bribe or not.
Speaking to media, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the comedian should know that the BMC is not a stage of comedy.
“Kapil Sharma ji does comedy. But BMC is not a comedy stage. First of all, he should tell the name of the person who asked for a bribe from him, when did he ask and why did he ask. The whole episode is about an illegal construction which Kapil Sharma ji has been carrying out. I think a case should be registered against him in this regard,” Raut said.
“I think an action should be taken against him first and then it should be seen whether a person had asked for a bribe from him or not. I think it was not right for him to make allegations against anyone. If he (Kapil Sharma) was given the permission to carry out his illegal construction, he would not have complained about all this,” he added.
The Shiv Sena leader further insisted that the comedian has not done a big thing by paying an income tax of Rs. five crores in five years, as it is the responsibility of every individual to pay the tax.
Sharma, who is facing the ire of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), had yesterday insisted that he just “voiced his concern on the corruption he faced” and did not “blame any political party.”
“I just voiced my concern on the corruption I faced with certain individuals..Its No blame on any political party be it BJP, MNS or ShivSena,” Sharma said in a tweet.
Responding to this, the Shiv Sena leader said, “If your voice is against corruption then we stand by you. But you should first furnish all the details about the bribe episode.”
The MNS had earlier on Friday threatened Sharma to prove bribe allegations against BMC officials or face action.
“Kapil Sharma said that a MNS worker asked for bribe to legalize his under construction building, we challenge him to prove his allegations. If he is unable to prove his allegations then we won’t allow him to shoot in Mumbai till he apologises to us,” Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) Chitrapat Sena President Amey Khopkar said.
Kapil Sharma has claimed that he was asked to pay a bribe by a BMC official for his new office that is under construction.
BMC vigilance chief engineer Manohar Pawar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have both responded to Sharma and assured that they are looking into the matter.
While Pawar asked Sharma to make a formal complaint and name the officer who demanded bribe from him, the Chief Minister responded to his tweet asking for the name.
I ONLY EXPRESSED MY ANGER AGAINST CORRUPTION: KAPIL SHARMA
Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma on Saturday clarified that his complaint regarding a bribe demanded by the Mumbai civic body official was out of anger against corruption and his move was not politically motivated.
Kapil said in an official statement: "I have only expressed my concerns. However, it has taken a shape of an unnecessary controversy. My space is on the entertainment platform and not on the news platform.
"I am not a part of any political organization and nor do I intend to be. I have utmost respect for the honorable Prime Minister and governments, both Union and State, its agencies and Statutory Bodies. I am a law abiding citizen and shall act as legally advised.
"This was my anger against corruption which I expressed on twitter."
Kapil had earlier this week taken the social media route to complain to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about a case of corruption.
He said he has been paying Rs 15 crore income tax for the last five years and has been asked for a Rs 500,000 as bribe by Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for getting his office done up.
He tagged Modi's Twitter handle @narendramodi in the post.
