In a new twist to the ongoing controversy over Kapil Sharma’s bribe tweet, the Mumbai Congress on Tuesday threw its weight behind the popular TV host, saying that he was being victimised by the BJP’s “dirty tricks department” for exposing corruption in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
On a day when the State Forest department officials began to look into the alleged violations by him and other house owners and developers based in the vicinity of his Versova office, Sharma received support from an unexpected political quarter.
Talking to media persons, Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam charged that the BJP’s dirty tricks department” was maligning Sharma for daring to speak on the alleged corruption in the BMC.
Prefacing that he was not defending the alleged violations carried out by Sharma at his Andheri row house or his flat in a high-rise building at Gorgegaon, Nirupam said: “If he (Sharma) has done something wrong, let the law will take its course. But, I want to expose the manner in which Kapil is being victimised by antics and dirty tricks of BJP.
In his staunch criticism of Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Nirupam charged that Fadnavis had no moral right to act against Sharma, given that there had been large-scale violations indulged by his own Ministers.
“The Chief Minister does not have any moral right to seek action against Sharma’s so-called violations as his own office since he protected a Minister and his own party who allegedly indulged in unauthorised constructions.,”Nirupam said.
“When I had raised the issue of illegal gym built and run by his own Minister Ravindra Waikar, the Chief Minister gave an imaginary figure that there were nearly 3,000 illegal gyms running across the city in order to protect his Minister. So why only Sharma is being singled out and victimisedIJ” the Mumbai Congress chief wondered.
On Monday, Nirupam had written to Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, alleging there were several illegal constructions linked to political parties in the city. “There are large-scale violations involving the state government and political parties. There are illegal constructions in the CM’s bungalow, BJP head office at Nariman Point and most Shiv Sena shakhas,” he had alleged.
Meanwhile, troubles mounted for Sharma as the state forest officials surveyed Sharma’s office at Versova in north Mumbai. “Our officials carried out a survey of the TV host’s office and other houses for alleged forest department violations. It is not just Sharma who has carried out large-scale modifications in his office. At least 50 to0 60 flat owners have also indulged in similar violations, “Assistant Forest Conservator Makarand Ghodke said.
The survey by the Forest department came a day after the Oshiwara police registered an FIR against Sharma under section 53(7) of Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act (MRTP) 1966, based on a complaint lodged by BMC sub-engineer Abhay Jagtap for alleged violations.
In his complaint, Jagtap alleged that Sharma, who owns a flat in DlH Enclave on New link Road in Goregaon, had violated norms and carried out illegal alterations in his flat.
It may be recalled that a fierce controversy had broke after Sharma had stirred up the hornet’s nest through his two controversial tweets to the Prime Minister that read: Yeh hain aapke achhe din IJ @narendramodi”…. I am paying 15 cr income tax from last 5 year n still i have to pay 5 lacs bribe to BMC office for making my office @narendramodi”.
Apart from acting against Sharma for alleged violations carried out at his flat, the BMC is also looking to
major structural alterations made by actor Irfan Khan and others who own flats in a building developed by M/s Dev land and Housing Private limited. Sharma, Irfan and three other individual flat owners have been served notices by the BMC for alleged violation of building norms. The developer, who continues to possess 10 flats in the building, has also been issued a notice. Incidentally, this building was issued an Occupation Certificate (OC) by the BMC in 2013.
In a related development, the BMC is considering acting against at least 59 unauthorized constructions and major alternations made residential premises owners at Oshivara’s Aaram Nagar locality in line with the a verdict given by the Bombay High Court in December 2015. The BMC has since then pulled down 75 illegal structures. On its part, the State-run Maharashtra Housing And Development Authority (MHADA), which owns the land, had paid Rs 70 lakh to the BMC for undertaking demolitions.
This locality houses 135 such residential premises which have been illegally converted into studios, where several TV serials and commercials are shot on a day-to day basis.