The BJP corporator from ward 23 in Surat allegedly stopped civic body officials on Thursday from demolishing “illegal constructions” built on a plot reserved for the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) in Bamroli, leading to a deputy engineer of the SMC filing a complaint with the police. The incident allegedly took place when SMC officials Chandresh Patoriya, Prakshesh Chaudhary, Ketan Goswami, Mayur Patel and Henil Mehta, along with a technical assistant team from the encroachment department, reached the plot allegedly reserved for building a school and library. Civic officials claimed they found eight rooms have been erected on the plot. Following this, the officials started demolition and soon after, corporator Geeta Rabari, her husband Teja Rabari and their sons Mayur and Mehul reached the spot along with local residents. As the corporator ordered the SMC officials to stop the demolition, a heated argument ensued. SMC Assistant Engineer Prakesh Chaudhary said, “The corporator and her family threatened the officials that they would have to face stone pelting. We asked them to speak to Udhna Zone Deputy Engineer N R Chaudahry. In a telephonic conversation with Chaudhary, Mayur Rabari threatened him that the ACB would question him in a bribe case while also abusing him.” “When we asked who was behind the construction work, there was no reply. We suspect that the illegal construction was done by the corporator's relative. They have built eight rooms, 90 per cent of which we demolished before we left,” he added. When contacted, SMC Udhna zone chief G D Chaudhan said, “We had issued notices twice when we found that construction work was being held at the plot. When we did not receive any response, our team demolished 90 per cent of the constructions.” Pandesara police Inspector N K Kamalia said, “We have received an application from the deputy engineer of SMC's Udhna zone. We have called the accused named in the complaint and will get their statements recorded. We will also see who was behind the construction work.” Despite repeated attempts, Geeta Rabari could not be contacted for a comment.
