The Bombay High Court has granted relief to actress Kangana Ranaut on Friday set aside the demolition order passed on September 9 by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and held that the demolition action “was actuated by mala fides.’’ It held that the constructions done by her in her Bandra bungalow was “pre-existing’’ and not ongoing and also held that she is entitled to damages, appointed a valuer to help quantify it.
The Court has quashed the demolition notice and added that Ranaut may take steps to make her property habitable and to regularise the same. The Court has also directed the appointment of a valuer to determine the compensation payable to Ranaut for the demolition of her property. Ms Ranaut will also be compensated for the damage caused by the demolition.
The BMC had demolished a part of Ms Ranaut’s office in a bungalow at Mumbai’s Pali Hill on September 9. The actor alleged that the civic body’s action against her was a result of her comments against the Maharashtra government and the ruling Shiv Sena. The “same party” is also the ruling party in the BMC, the “Queen” actor said in her petition, without naming Shiv Sena, which runs the Mumbai civic body – India’s richest municipal corporation. The court, however, noted that the petitioner (Ms Ranaut) should show restraint in airing her opinions on the government.
