Kangana's bungalow demolition smacks of malice: Bombay High Court
In a relief to Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, the Bombay High Court on Friday (November 27) said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) action of demolishing part of her bungalow in Mumbai smacks of malafide and was done to cause substantial loss to her, and quashed the demolition order.
In a relief to Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, the Bombay High Court on Friday (November 27) said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) action of demolishing a part of her bungalow in Mumbai smacks of malafide intention and was done to cause substantial loss to her, and quashed the demolition order.
The court also said it does not approve of authorities using “muscle power” against any citizen.
A division bench of Justices S.J. Kathawalla and R.I. Chagla noted that the action undertaken by the civic body leaves hardly “any manner of doubt” that it was unauthorised.
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“The BMC order actuated by legal malice. There is material in pleadings that smacks of malafide and was done to cause substantial losses. We would be perfectly justified to order compensation against respondents,” the bench said, referring to photographs of the premise and other material produced before it, The Indian Express reported.
The bench was hearing Kangana’s petition challenging the demolition carried out by BMC at her Pali Hill bungalow in suburban Bandra on September 9.
Kangana had sought ₹ 2 crore in damages from the BMC and urged the court to declare BMC’s action illegal.
On the issue of compensation, the bench said it was appointing a valuer who would hear the petitioner and the BMC on monetary damages caused to her due to the demolition.
“The valuer shall by March 2021 pass appropriate orders on compensation,” the court said.
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Reacting to the court’s decision, she said it was not her win but the “victory of democracy”.
“When individual stands against the government and wins, it’s not the victory of the individual but it’s the victory of the democracy. Thank you everyone who gave me courage and thanks to those who laughed at my broken dreams. Its only cause you play a villain so I can be a HERO. (sic),” she tweeted.
When individual stands against the government and wins, it’s not the victory of the individual but it’s the victory of the democracy.
Thank you everyone who gave me courage and thanks to those who laughed at my broken dreams.
Its only cause you play a villain so I can be a HERO. https://t.co/pYkO6OOcBr— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) November 27, 2020
(With inputs from PTI)
