The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has filed a police complaint against the actor Sonu Sood allegedly over converting a six-storey residential building in Juhu into a hotel without the required permission from the authorities.
The civic body has asked the Juhu police to take cognizance of the offence committed by Bollywood actor Sonu Sood under the Maharashtra Region and Town Planning (MRTP) Act citing the unauthorized additions, alterations, and change of user.
However, the actor has refuted the allegations and claimed that he had obtained BMC permissions. He further stated that he was only waiting for the clearance from Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA).
In the police complaint filed by BMC in Juhu Police station on January 4, it is alleged that Sonu Sood has converted the six-storey Shakti Sagar building, a residential building on Juhu’s AB Nair Road into a hotel without obtaining any change of user permissions.
The complaint filed by BMC stated, “It has been found that Sonu Sood has instituted/commenced/undertaken/carried out development or changed the user of land. Unauthorised addition/alterations beyond approved plan and unauthorized change of user from residential to residential hotel building without taking technical sanction from competent authority.”
“It was found that the accused had not complied with the notice and was continuing to carry out the unauthorized development even after the notice was served on him. The accused has committed a punishable offence under Section 7 of the MRTP Act. I request you to take cognizance of the offence and deal with the accused according to the law,” BMC said.
As per the BMC officials, the actor had moved the city civil court against the BMC notice in October but didn’t get any interim relief. “The court had given him 3 weeks’ time to appeal in high court. Since three weeks weeks passed and he had not restored the alterations and additions as per the approved plan, we have filed a police complaint to register an FIR under MRTP Act,” said an official.
However, Sonu Sood has clarified, “I have taken approval for change of user from the BMC. It was subject to the approval of the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority. This permission hasn’t come due to Covid-19. There are no irregularities. I always abide by the law. This hotel was used to house Covid-19 warriors during the pandemic. If permissions don’t come, I will restore it back to a residential structure. I am appealing against the BMC’s complaint in the Bombay HC.”
The actor hit headlines this year for the social work he has done during the pandemic by helping people affected by Covid and migrant labourers.
