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Kangana issue over for us, says Sena day after BMC razes office

A day after the party-run BMC came in for criticism from the Bombay High Court and other quarters for the hastily-undertaken demolition of “illegal” structures at actress Kangana Ranaut’s Bandra bungalow, the ruling Shiv Sena on Thursday went on the back-foot, by saying that as far as it was concerned, the Kangana episode was over and indicated that it would not pursue the matter further.

On a day when the BMC put up a strong case before the Bombay High Court by charging that Kangana was “trying to obfuscate and cover up” her illegal construction works “by making baseless and wild allegations of mala fide”, Shiv Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut sought to play down the issue by saying “as far we are concerned Kangana episode is over”.

Talking to mediapersons after meeting with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Raut said, “We have forgotten the issue. As far as we are concerned, the Kangana episode is over. We are now occupied with our Government and social work.”

Queried as to what he discussed with the Chief Minister during the meeting, Raut said: “We discussed issues relating to intra-party work”.

The Shiv Sena appeared both chastened and mellowed in its approach in the wake of the reprimand its party-led BMC received from the Bombay High Court which had on Wednesday said that the manner in which the BMC “proceeded to commence the demolition prima facie smacks of mala fide” and displeasure expressed by NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Congress president Sonia Gandhi over the hasty manner in which the BMC carried out the demolition.

However, Raut sought to dismiss reports about Pawar and Sonia being unhappy with Wednesday’s demolition, by saying that; “Be it Pawar saheb or Sonia ji, nobody has made a statement expressing displeasure”.

Meanwhile, at the second day of the hearing in the Kangana demolition case held before the Bombay High Court, the BMC filed an affidavit charging that the actress had not secured due permissions for the alleged unauthorised alterations on the premises and the work was done in complete violation of applicable rules.

The BMC team, comprising Senior Counsel Aspiy Chinoy, Senior Counsel Anil Sakhare and advocate Joel Carlos, told the High Court that Kangana had not disputed carrying out the unlawful modifications in her writ petition and she had no basis to dispute the illegal works carried out.

A HC division bench of Bombay High Court comprising Justice SJ Kathawalla and Justice RI Chagla had on Wednesday taken a serious view of the BMC action and immediately ordered a stay on the demolition drive at Bungalow No. 5 in Chetak Row Houses in Bandra west.

After hearing the two parties, the High Court ordered that both sides will maintain a status quo in the matter and will hear the case on September 22 after the BMC urged that Ranaut must not be permitted to carry out any work on her property till the next hearing.

Among other things, the BMC affidavit, while rejecting Kangana’s charges, charged that she was “trying to obfuscate and cover up” her illegal construction works “by making baseless and wild allegations of mala fide, etc”.

The BMC also charged that the actress “has made false and incorrect statements and has not approached the Hon’ble court with clean hands”.

“The present petition is misconceived and devoid of any merits and liable to be dismissed with costs,” the BMC told the court.

Kangana has come under fire from various quarters for controversial statements comparing Mumbai to “Pak-Occupied Kashmir” and saying “it seems Mumbai is addicted to blood” and dubbing Bollywood as an ‘Islam-dominated’ film industry. There have also been protests erupted in Mumbai and other cities against the actress. Shiv Sena activists burnt her effigy and pictures in Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Thane, Palghar, Nashik and other cities. On its part, the BJP too has distanced from Kangana’s “anti-Mumbai” comments.

Undeterred by the demolition of several parts of her Bandra bungalow, Kangana launched a fresh attack against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, his son and Minister Aaditya and the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress on the issue of mob lynching of two sadhus and their driver in Palghar district and the investigations into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Kangana, who visited her BMC ravaged Pali Hill office-bungalow a day after on Thursday, said “….one must never succumb to bullies, after losing elections Shiv Sena shamelessly made ‘milavat sarkar’ and turned into Sonia Sena,” while tagging BJP stalwart and Maharashtra’s Leader of Opposition and ex-Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

“When injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty,” Amruta, the banker-activist wife of Fadnavis, said while extending her support to Kangana.

On his part, Sanjay Raut refused to react to Kangana’s comments. “The BMC is in a better position to comment. There is a legal department there, you can contact them…you can speak to the Mayor and municipal commissioner,” he said.

Asked to comment on Kangana’s reference to Uddhav as “tu” and “tujhe”, Raut said: “The 11 crore people of Maharashtra have heard that.”

In a related development, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment and RPI president Ramdas Athawale visited Kangana’s Pali Hill bungalow and held an hour-long meeting with the actress. Athavale extended his party’s support to the actress.

During the course of her conversation with Athavale, Kangana indicated that she would file a case against the BMC to seek compensation for the extensive damage caused to her bungalow during the demolition carried out on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP) president Mahant Narendra Giri said: “The fearless voice of the actor against nepotism and domination of a particular community in Bollywood besides the nexus existing between the film industry and the drug mafia has caused ripples. The mafia and the State Government are both in fear and simply hitting out at her.”

Kangana slams Shiv Sena again, Raut says is a closed chapter for us, denies Sena link with demolition of her flat (Raghu)

Friday, 11 September 2020 | TN Raghunatha | Mumbai

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