Demolition at Powai’s Jai Bhim Nagar: Four months after assuring Bombay HC, Mumbai police files FIR against BMC, police personnel

On June 6, 2024, the BMC demolished astir 500 allegedly unauthorised structures successful Jai Bhim Nagar. While the civic assemblage claimed the enactment was based connected directives from the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), activists pointed retired that a authorities solution prohibits demolitions during the monsoon (June 1-September 30).

The demolition thrust had taken a convulsive crook with arsenic galore arsenic 35 people, including 20 constabulary personnel, injured aft alleged stone-pelting and clashes betwixt the residents and municipal personnel. Nearly 60 radical person been arrested connected charges of assaulting the police.

The determination sparked criticism, starring affected residents to record a petition successful the HC, demanding an mentation for the eviction. Subsequently an SIT was acceptable up connected the directive of the HC to look into the case.

In September 2024, the SIT told the part seat of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj K. Chavan that the BMC had conducted the demolitions without a circumstantial SHRC order. The SIT assured the tribunal that officials progressive would beryllium booked. Four months later, the FIR has present been registered.

According to police, the FIR was filed based connected a ailment by nonmigratory Minabai Govind Limbole nether IPC sections 323, 324, 143, 504, and 34.

Limbole, a nonmigratory of Jai Bhim Nagar since 2000, stated successful her ailment that contempt submitting applications for h2o and energy connections, residents received nary effect from authorities. While their petition was pending successful the HC, a BMC announcement was posted successful the country connected June 3, 2024, ordering residents to vacate their homes wrong 48 hours.

On June 5, residents were called to a gathering astatine a section constabulary outpost, wherever they were urged to leave. The adjacent morning, astatine astir 8:30 am, constabulary personnel, BMC officials, workers, 5 JCBs and astir 500 employees of the builder arrived for the demolition.

“Despite pleading for much time, they did not listen. While we were speaking with the authorities, immoderate employees of the builder began throwing stones. The police, assuming we were responsible, started beating us,” Limbole stated successful her complaint.

She further alleged that residents were detained astatine the constabulary station. Upon her release, she returned to find each homes demolished, with her girl sitting connected the footpath.

The petitioners claimed they had been surviving successful Jai Bhim Nagar for astir 30 years and possessed documents specified arsenic energy bills, Aadhaar cards, and state connections to beryllium their residence.